YUANSHENG Organic Raw Puerh Dragon Pearls

For these YUANSHENG dragon pearls, start by rinsing the mini cake with hot water (around 200°F) for about 10 seconds and discarding that first rinse — this is standard for puerh and opens up the compressed leaves. Then steep for 15-30 seconds for your first drinkable infusion, adding 5-10 seconds for each subsequent steep. One important note from reviewers: this tea is unforgiving if you oversteep it. Leave it too long and it turns very bitter. Keep your steeping times short and you'll be rewarded with smooth, sweet cups.

Yes, with one caveat. The individually wrapped mini cakes make it very beginner-friendly — no tea pick, no scale, no guesswork on portion size. The organic, clean flavor profile without the fishy taste common in budget puerhs is also ideal for newcomers. The caveat: you need to pay attention to steeping time. Reviewers warn it gets very bitter if oversteeped. Start with short steeps (15-20 seconds) and work your way up. As long as you set a timer, it's a great entry point into puerh.

This tea holds up well across multiple infusions — reviewers specifically mention good re-steepability as a highlight. You can comfortably get 4-6 steeps from one mini cake, with the flavor evolving from earthy and bold to sweeter and more mellow in later infusions. Some reviewers claim to get even more steeps. This is one reason the value is solid: one mini cake can fuel an entire afternoon tea session.

These YUANSHENG mini cakes are much easier than a full-size puerh cake — no prying apart with a tea pick needed. Just unwrap one individually packaged mini cake, place it in your teapot or gaiwan, rinse with hot water for 10 seconds and discard, then steep in fresh hot water for 15-30 seconds. You can re-steep the same cake multiple times. Some reviewers report getting 5-6 liters of tea from a single cake when they divide it across sessions, so one cake goes a long way.

Morning is the sweet spot. Reviewers consistently mention it helps with morning sluggishness and keeps them active throughout the day. It also works well as an after-work relaxation tea. Because it's a raw puerh with noticeable caffeine, you'll probably want to avoid it within a few hours of bedtime. The multiple-infusion capability makes it perfect for a long morning session — brew one mini cake and keep re-steeping through the first half of your day.

Like any caffeinated tea, puerh can cause sleep disruption, stomach discomfort (especially on an empty stomach), or jitteriness if you drink too much. With this YUANSHENG raw puerh specifically, the main practical downside reviewers flag is that it's unforgiving with brewing — oversteep it even slightly and it turns very bitter. A couple of reviewers also experienced inconsistency, noting a fishy smell or dirt taste in some batches, though the majority report clean, smooth flavor.

A couple of reviewers noted more stems than they expected in the mini cakes. Some stems are normal in puerh tea — they actually contribute sweetness to the brew and are included intentionally in many traditional recipes. However, if you're used to pure-leaf puerh, you may notice the difference. The overall consensus from reviewers is still that the tea quality is high, with smooth and sweet flavor, so the stems don't seem to detract from the drinking experience for most people.

Many reviewers of this YUANSHENG puerh drink it as part of their daily routine and report positive effects — better energy in the morning, a calming effect after work, and feeling more active throughout the day. The individually wrapped mini cakes make it practical for daily use since you just grab one and brew. Each cake can be steeped multiple times, so one a day can easily cover your tea needs from morning through afternoon.

Reviewers of this YUANSHENG puerh specifically report energy boosts and increased productivity, a calming and relaxing effect, and relief from morning sluggishness. Several call it a better alternative to energy drinks. Beyond the personal reports, puerh tea is traditionally associated with digestive support and is one of the few teas that improves with age. The convenient mini cake format also means you can easily incorporate it into a daily routine.

Raw (sheng) puerh — which is what this YUANSHENG tea is — undergoes natural, slow aging and tends to be more vibrant, astringent, and energizing. Ripe (shou) puerh is artificially fermented to speed up the aging process, resulting in a darker, earthier, and mellower cup. This raw puerh sits in an interesting middle ground at 3 years old: it's past the sharp "green" stage but hasn't fully matured into deep aged character. Reviewers describe it as smooth, sweet, and earthy — approachable but with complexity that rewards attention.

Look for clear sourcing (Yunnan province is the authentic origin), organic certification, and transparency about age. This YUANSHENG checks those boxes — it's organic, from Yunnan, and specifies 3 years of aging. For raw puerh specifically, you want smooth flavor without fishiness, which is a common quality issue. Most reviewers confirm this tea delivers on that promise. The dragon pearl/mini cake format is also a plus for beginners since you don't need to invest in a full cake before knowing if you like it.

People who are pregnant or nursing, those sensitive to caffeine, and anyone on blood-thinning medications should consult their doctor before drinking puerh tea. It's also not ideal to drink on an empty stomach, as raw puerh in particular can be quite stimulating to the digestive system. With this YUANSHENG raw puerh specifically, reviewers note it provides a noticeable energy boost, so if you're caffeine-sensitive, you may want to stick to morning cups.

Raw (sheng) puerh is less oxidized than ripe puerh, which makes it more astringent and stimulating to the stomach lining. Drinking it without food can cause nausea or stomach discomfort in some people. This YUANSHENG raw puerh is on the smoother side for a sheng, but it's still best enjoyed after a light meal or snack — especially if you're new to raw puerh.

It depends on your timing. This YUANSHENG raw puerh is more energizing than relaxing — reviewers report increased energy and productivity, making it better suited for mornings and early afternoons. That said, some reviewers do mention a calming, relaxing effect after work. If you're looking for a pre-bedtime tea, ripe (shou) puerh would be a gentler choice. This raw puerh is best enjoyed earlier in the day.

Puerh generally contains moderate caffeine — roughly 30-70mg per cup depending on brewing method and steep time. This YUANSHENG raw puerh sits on the more stimulating end since raw (sheng) puerh tends to be more energizing than ripe (shou) puerh. Reviewers specifically mention getting an energy boost and increased productivity from it, with some calling it a better alternative to energy drinks. If you're caffeine-sensitive, stick to morning cups.

Puerh offers a different kind of energy compared to coffee — reviewers of this YUANSHENG tea specifically describe it as a better alternative to energy drinks, providing sustained focus without the crash. Puerh contains L-theanine alongside caffeine, which promotes calm alertness rather than coffee's sometimes jittery buzz. Whether it's "healthier" depends on your body, but if you're looking to cut back on coffee while still getting a morning energy boost, this puerh makes a solid substitute.

Yes — raw (sheng) puerh is one of the few teas that can improve with age, and reviewers note this tea has appreciable aging potential if stored properly. Keep the individually wrapped cakes in a cool, dry place with some air circulation (not completely sealed) and away from strong odors. The tea is already 3 years old, and the flavor should continue to mellow and develop complexity over time. Just know that home aging won't replicate professional storage conditions, so manage expectations.

The individual wrapping helps protect each cake, but for longer-term storage, keep them in a cool, dry spot away from strong odors (puerh absorbs smells easily). Don't seal them in an airtight container — raw puerh needs some air circulation to continue aging gracefully. A ceramic jar with a loose lid or a clean cardboard box works well. Avoid direct sunlight and high humidity areas like above the stove or near the dishwasher.

Each YUANSHENG mini cake is pre-portioned, which takes the guesswork out of it. One mini cake works well for a small teapot or gaiwan (around 100-150ml). If you're using a larger mug or pot, you might want to use a full cake and just steep it a bit longer. The beauty of these individually wrapped portions is that you don't need a scale — just grab one and brew.

Yes, all puerh tea contains caffeine regardless of age. This YUANSHENG is a 3-year aged raw puerh, and it's noticeably energizing — reviewers call out the energy boost as a validated benefit. Aging can slightly mellow the caffeine effect over decades, but at 3 years this tea still has a lively, stimulating character. It's a great morning tea precisely because of that caffeine kick.

Raw puerh like this YUANSHENG tea generally has similar or slightly higher caffeine than green tea, typically in the 30-70mg range per cup. The difference is in how it hits you — reviewers describe this puerh's energy as sustained and smooth rather than the quick spike you might get from green tea. Multiple steeps also mean you're spreading the caffeine out across a longer session rather than getting it all at once.

Start with a quick 15-30 second steep after your initial rinse, then gradually increase by 5-10 seconds with each re-steep. Reviewers warn that this tea becomes very bitter if oversteeped, so err on the shorter side — especially for your first few tries. The mini cake format means the leaves are compressed, so they need that initial rinse to open up before they'll release their full flavor.

Reviewers of this YUANSHENG puerh who drink it daily report increased energy and productivity, along with a calming, focused feeling — several describe it as a better alternative to energy drinks. The moderate caffeine gives you a sustained boost without the jitters. One thing to keep in mind: daily puerh drinkers generally find the flavor becomes more enjoyable over time as your palate adjusts to the earthy, sweet profile.