Tea style · teaconnnection

Shou Pu-erh: Analyzing 5,409 teas from 116 sellers

teaconnnection collects data from over 196 online tea shops, so you can easily browse, compare, and analyze different teas.

On this page, you can learn all about shou pu-erh, based on the data we collected.

Data through May 29, 2026.

Listings

5,409

Product pages

2,356

Sellers

116

With harvest year

79%

With origin country

65%

What is shou pu-erh?

Shou pu-erh (ripe pu-erh) is fermented tea from Yunnan that undergoes wet-pile (wo dui) processing to develop dark, smooth, earthy flavor in weeks rather than years. Unlike sheng (raw) pu-erh, which ages slowly in storage, shou is ready to drink young and tends toward mellow sweetness with less bitterness.

In our latest data, China accounts for 98% of shou pu-erh with a named origin — overwhelmingly from Yunnan, especially Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Menghai.

How to brew shou pu-erh

Shou pu-erh is best brewed gongfu-style in a gaiwan or small teapot — short infusions with near-boiling water, rinsing once to wake the leaves.

  1. Use 5–7 g of leaf in a gaiwan or small teapot (100–120 ml).
  2. Rinse the leaves once with near-boiling water (95–100°C) and discard immediately.
  3. Steep the first infusion for 10–20 seconds, then pour off fully.
  4. Add 5–10 seconds per subsequent round; well-made shou often yields 8–12 infusions.

What to look for when buying shou pu-erh

Harvest year and provenance matter. About 79% of what we track includes a harvest year and 63% names a producer or garden — use both when comparing cakes and loose maocha.

Cultivar is listed on only about 4% of listings, so origin, factory, and format (loose vs pressed cake) usually tell you more. Look for Yunnan region detail, whether the tea is labeled ripe or shou, and how old the lot is.

Cultivars and naming on the market

Shou pu-erh is labeled by region, factory recipe, and format more often than by cultivar. Yunnan, Menghai, and Xishuangbanna appear constantly alongside terms like ripe tea, shou cha, and aged cake.

Loose ripe maocha and factory-pressed cakes both appear in large numbers. Everyday drinking cakes fill the middle of the market; older or limited batches sit higher. Use the browse table below to compare how shops name and price their teas.

Where shou pu-erh comes from

China accounts for 98% of shou pu-erh with a named origin, with Yunnan as the clear center. Xishuangbanna, Lincang, and Menghai are the regions that show up most often within Yunnan.

The best-documented lots name a specific prefecture, mountain, or garden. Some sellers describe organically cultivated assamica bushes at high elevation — for example, tea from summits above 1,300 meters in Yunnan.

Flavor and character

Shou pu-erh typically tastes sweet, smooth, and mellow, with earthy depth that develops through pile fermentation. Thick body and a gentle finish are common across what we track.

One seller describes a well-balanced shou as offering "a mellow, thick, and sweet" cup — a fair summary of why drinkers reach for ripe pu-erh when they want something dark and comforting without waiting for sheng to age.

How shou pu-erh is made

The defining step is wo dui — controlled wet-pile fermentation that transforms sun-dried maocha into ripe pu-erh over several weeks. The result is darker leaf, smoother flavor, and less astringency than young sheng.

Some lots note extended fermentation periods — for example, spring harvest maocha fermented for 45 days before pressing. Farm history and factory tradition show up on about 15% of what we track; awards and distinction claims on about 21%.

What shou pu-erh costs today

Everyday shou pu-erh mostly sits between $14.92 and $39.71 per 100g, with a median of $24.00 — accessible compared with aged sheng, though premium or older cakes can climb much higher.

Sort the browse table by price per gram to compare on equal footing when pack weight is listed. Harvest year, region, and factory name often correlate with where a tea sits in the range.

Typical price per 100g

CurrencyListingsMin25thMedian75th90thMax
EUR185€6.12/100g€9.93/100g€23.63/100g€42.48/100g€87.31/100g€296.62/100g
USD4,179$2.60/100g$14.92/100g$24.00/100g$39.71/100g$63.81/100g$7,714.14/100g

Everyday drinking

$14.92/100g

A good starting range for regular cups.

Typical mid-range

$24.00/100g

Where many well-described teas sit.

Higher detail

$39.71/100g

More specific origin or plant variety is common here.

Treat-yourself

$63.81/100g

Rare, aged, or highly specific teas.

Origins in this category

Top sellers

Tea styles

Examples worth opening

Good example to compare

2022 Conventional Jingmai Shu Puer : A Bai La co-operative Jingmai mountain

A good example to open first is “2022 Conventional Jingmai Shu Puer : A Bai La co-operative Jingmai mountain” from Comins Tea. It tells you where it's from (China · Puer County · MangJing Village), which plant variety (Conventional tea trees), who made it (Mr NanKang), when it was picked (2018).

OriginRegionLocalityPlant varietyMakerPickedSeasonTaste notesFlavorsPack size

View listing

Good example to compare

2020 Ancient Tree Imperial Grade Shu Puer : A Bai La co-operative Jingmai mountain

A good example to open first is “2020 Ancient Tree Imperial Grade Shu Puer : A Bai La co-operative Jingmai mountain” from Comins Tea. It tells you where it's from (China · Yunnan Province · Jingmai Mountain), which plant variety (Ancient Tree), who made it (A Bai La co-operative), when it was picked (2018).

OriginRegionLocalityPlant varietyMakerPickedSeasonTaste notesFlavorsPack size

View listing

Unusual pick

2010 DaYi "Pu Zhi Wei" (General) Cake 357g Puerh Shou Cha Ripe Tea

An unusual pick is “2010 DaYi "Pu Zhi Wei" (General) Cake 357g Puerh Shou Cha Ripe Tea” from KingTea. It tells you where it's from (Menghai), who made it (DaYi), when it was picked (2010).

LocalityMakerPickedProcessingTaste notesFlavorsPack size

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Unusual pick

2013 DaYi "7572" Cake 1st Batch 357g Puerh Shou Cha Ripe Tea (New Ver.)

An unusual pick is “2013 DaYi "7572" Cake 1st Batch 357g Puerh Shou Cha Ripe Tea (New Ver.)” from KingTea. It tells you where it's from (Menghai), who made it (Menghai Tea Factory), when it was picked (2013).

LocalityMakerPickedSeasonTaste notesFlavorsPack size

View listing

More teas to explore

  • 2023 XiaGuan "Xiao Fa" Tuo 100g*5pcs Puerh Ripe Tea Shou Cha

    KingTea · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.03–€0.03/g

    View listing
  • 2024 XiaGuan "Xiao Fa" Tuo 100g*5pcs Puerh Ripe Tea Shou Cha

    KingTea · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.03–€0.03/g

    View listing
  • 2023 KingTeaMall "Nuo Xiang" (Glutinous Rice Flavor) A+++ Grade, Brick 6g/pcs Puerh Ripe Tea Shou Cha

    KingTea · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.03–€0.14/g

    View listing
  • 2023 Xiaguan "Xiao Fa" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Tuo

    Yunnan Sourcing Tea Shop · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.03–€0.04/g

    View listing
  • 2012 JiaMing "8668 - Wu Liang Shan" (8668 - Wu Liang Mountain - PuEr) Cake 357g Puerh Ripe Tea Shou Cha

    KingTea · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.03–€0.25/g

    View listing
  • 2019 TuLinFengHuang "8504 " (Wuliang Mountain - 35th Factory Commemoration) Cake 400g Puerh Ripe Tea Shou Cha

    KingTea · Shou Pu-erh

    €0.04–€0.20/g

    View listing

FAQ

What is shou pu-erh?
Shou pu-erh (ripe pu-erh) is fermented tea from Yunnan that undergoes wet-pile processing to develop dark, smooth, earthy flavor quickly. Unlike sheng pu-erh, it is ready to drink young and tends toward mellow sweetness rather than bright astringency.
How do you brew shou pu-erh?
Use 5–7 g in a gaiwan with near-boiling water. Rinse once, then steep 10–20 seconds for the first infusion and pour off fully. Increase steep time by 5–10 seconds each round; good shou often yields 8–12 infusions.
How is shou pu-erh different from sheng pu-erh?
Shou (ripe) pu-erh undergoes wet-pile fermentation for weeks to mimic aged flavor. Sheng (raw) pu-erh is sun-dried maocha that ages slowly in storage. Shou is darker and earthier from the start; sheng is brighter and more astringent when young.
How current is this data?
Listings were last imported on 2026-05-29. Prices and availability can change on the seller's site — always confirm on the product page before buying.