Jinglong Tea Factory Old Big Leaf Loose Leaf Pu-erh Tea, Ripe and Raw Sampler Review (2026)

Who this sampler fits

This sampler is aimed at someone who is curious about pu-erh but has not yet decided whether they prefer the earthy, mellow character of ripe pu-erh or the sharper, more evolving character of raw pu-erh. Packaging both styles from the same Old Big Leaf varietal in one box makes it easy to brew them back to back and compare directly, which is a more useful way to learn the category than buying two unrelated bags from different farms. It suits a tea drinker who already enjoys black or oolong tea and wants to branch into fermented and aged styles, or a gift for someone building out a loose-leaf collection. It is not the right pick for someone who already knows they want one style specifically for daily drinking in bulk, since a sampler by nature favors variety over quantity.

What is in the box and where it comes from

The sampler contains loose leaf pu-erh in two styles: ripe, sometimes called shou or black pu-erh, and raw, sometimes called sheng or green pu-erh, both from the Old Big Leaf varietal that is considered a hallmark of Yunnan province tea production. Jinglong Tea Factory is a family-run operation established in 2004 in Yiwu, one of the most well known tea growing and trading towns in Yunnan, built as a partnership between western tea entrepreneurs and a local old-tree tea producer. Ripe pu-erh from the region is made using a wet-pile post-fermentation process applied to sun-dried big-leaf loose green tea, which is what gives ripe pu-erh its darker color and mellower, earthier flavor compared with the lighter, more astringent raw style in the same sampler.

Brewing and living with the tea

Ripe pu-erh is typically brewed with water close to a full boil, in the range of 208 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, since the fermented leaf can handle heat that would scorch a delicate green tea. For a standard cup, a few minutes of steeping works well, and the same leaves can be brewed gongfu style instead, using shorter thirty to sixty second infusions with a stronger leaf-to-water ratio across several rounds, which tends to bring out more nuance than one long steep. Raw pu-erh in the sampler can be brewed the same way, though newer drinkers should expect a sharper, more astringent cup than the ripe side, especially with young raw pu-erh that has not had years to mellow with age. For exact quantities and any specific storage guidance, follow what is printed on the Jinglong packaging rather than general advice, since post-fermented tea can be sensitive to how it is kept.

Trade-offs against other pu-erh options

Against a larger single-style bag like the Tealyra 5 Years Aged Ripe Pu'erh, a higher-scored rival in our pu-erh guide, this Jinglong sampler trades away the ability to stock up on one favorite style in exchange for the chance to compare ripe and raw before committing to either. Against other ripe-only options such as the Oriarm or TIAN HU SHAN loose leaf pu-erh, this sampler's raw pu-erh half is the clear differentiator, giving a fuller picture of the category rather than just one fermentation style. The trade-off that applies across the board with any sampler is quantity: splitting a smaller total amount of tea between two styles means less of each to drink daily compared with a full bag dedicated to a single style, which matters if you already know you only want ripe or only want raw.

Verdict and who should pick something else

With our score of 8.2 out of 10 and a strong rank in our pu-erh tea guide, this sampler earns its place as an accessible, well-sourced way to learn the difference between ripe and raw pu-erh from a single reputable Yunnan producer. Choose it if you are new to pu-erh, want to taste both major styles before buying in bulk, or are shopping for a gift for a tea-curious friend. Look elsewhere if you already know you prefer ripe pu-erh specifically and want a larger everyday supply, in which case a dedicated bag like the Tealyra aged ripe pu-erh will go further, or if you want to start directly with raw pu-erh and skip the beginner-friendly comparison format altogether.

Frequently asked questions