Description:
Sun-dried peel of ripe mandarin oranges, patiently aged. Chenpi (陳皮, literally "aged peel") is one of the rare things in the tea world that, like a fine puerh, genuinely improves with time. Fresh peel is sharp and bright, after years of careful storage it turns a deep reddish brown, and the aroma settles into something warm and mellow: dried citrus, old wood, a whisper of honey.
The most celebrated chenpi comes from Xinhui in Guangdong, where the local mandarin variety has made this humble peel a treasured ingredient for centuries. As the old saying goes, "one tael of chenpi, one tael of gold" (一兩陳皮一兩金).
And this is not marketing romance. In traditional Chinese medicine, chenpi is a genuine medicinal herb, recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeiait is used to regulate qi, support digestion, and resolve dampness and phlegm. Its value was proven in clinics and pharmacies long, before it became a tea companion.
Chenpi is a natural companion to tea. A few slivers brewed with boiling water make a gentle, aromatic cup on their own. The pairings we recommend most are ripe puerh and Liu Bao: the deep, earthy mellowness of ripe puerh, or the smooth pine-smoked character of Liu Bao, meets chenpi's bright citrus warmth. The peel lifts the tea and the tea grounds the peel. It is a combination tea drinkers in Guangdong have sworn by for generations.
Highlights:
- Naturally aged dried mandarin peel, mellower with every year
- A recognized medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine: regulates qi, aids digestion, resolves dampness
- Exceptional with ripe puerh and Liu Bao; lovely brewed on its own
Aged peel for slow evenings. We keep chenpi at SCAFTEA for exactly this kind of cup.
Product information:
Brand Name: SCAFTEA
Origin: Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province
Pick Date: 2020
Tea Type: Dried Tangerine Peel (Chenpi)
Reasons for Recommendation:
A pantry essential for tea lovers: warming, fragrant, and endlessly pairable.
