Pu-erh teas originate from China's Yunnan Province and are named after a city in southern Yunnan. These teas are highly prized in China, where the processing methods have been a closely guarded secret for centuries.
Pu-erh's special flavor comes from the fact that after the leaves are picked, they are made into a sun-dried ground tea called maocha, which is fermented. The leaves are then cooked and packed into bricks or cakes.