Simple taste needs cultivation

William Irion, president of Irion Enterprises, a consulting company, moved his business to Yunnan province six years ago. He says he lost 20 kg with the help of pu'er tea and exercise. But he believes foreigners need to be educated in pu'er drinking.

"It is a tea unique to Yunnan, and most foreigners have to learn how to drink it," he says. "They might not like the first cup, but with the second and third cups, they'll like it."

Although pu'er tea was popular for a long time in the West in the 20th century, Yunnan tea producers have been facing difficulties exporting tea to Europe and the US.