Imagine my excitement when I found the very same ZhuKe (bamboo shell) in Chinatown. All things in bamboo must be Puer. The Pinyin and Chinese characters are prominently displayed. However it is a famous herbal concoction for those with internal heat. It looks like shu but taste very different. I'd say each pod is about 30g. A package of 5 shells was only $3. I wished I could find puer packaged this way.
Jim
Shen,
The two main herbals on my packaging are Lonicera Japonica and Plantago Asiatica. You can Google for more information. Some sites say Zhuke contains Puer and others the herbal formula. Considering there is a range in Shu taste you might think this taste such as it is might make it one but definitely no spent tea leaves. I've been dabbling in TCM for over a decade which was another impetus for me to learn at least some Chinese. My Chinatown keeps the herbals and teas separated. In this case, Zhuke was stored with the Puer. My packaging was $2 and loose change instead of $3. I prefer Oakland Chinatown over SF whenever I am out that way. I'll drop you an email because I'd like the Puer version.
Jim
Shen wrote:
I think the camellia sinensis version isn't technically Pu'er, but post-fermented Guangdong tea.
/Lew
Shen,
Look at what is left over from brewing. If it looks like tea leaves then it is a fermented tea from GuangDong which Lew suggests. If it looks like something else it is the herbal formula. I gave you the two which cause Google hits. The first is a honeysuckle and the second a seed. Dried honeysuckle is one of my favorite flowers for tea.
Jim
PS: Lew, my herbal versi> Hi, Jim,
...I delete me...
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