Raw Pu-erh (生普洱) is the traditional style of Pu-erh tea. It is made from large-leaf Yunnan tea that is sun-dried, then steamed and compressed into cakes. When young it tastes vivid, green and often quite bitter and astringent, with herbal, floral and citrus notes. As the cakes age, slow natural post-fermentation and ageing gradually darken the leaves and the flavour becomes rounder, smoother and more complex. Because each harvest and year ages in its own way, quality raw Pu-erh is often collected and prized.