Tangerine Pu-erh Tea | 小青柑

Tangerine Pu-erh tea（小青柑 - xiao qing gan, or lit. "Little Green Tangerine") is a combination of pu-erh fermented tea that has been stuffed into the hollowed out husks of tiny tangerines, and then left to age so that the two ingredients marry to create a refreshing twist on traditional pu-erh tea. This creation came about because both pu-erh tea and tangerine peels (陳皮 - chenpi) are known to get better with age. They become more fragrant, stronger tasting, and take on a deeper, bittersweet aftertaste the longer they are stored. This makes the tangerine pu-erh the perfect pairing, since the end result will carry the deep, earthy taste of pu-erh, complemented by the bright, citrus scent of tangerine peels.  This variety of tangerine pu-erh features a baked tangerine husk. As opposed to sun-drying the husk, the aroma and flavors are locked in by quickly when dehydrating the husk through baking. This helps the final product retain a fresh and zesty tangerine taste, whereas the sundried vari