Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh teas are one of China’s best kept secrets. Widely consumed and a tea that has traveled with merchants and nomads for centuries, Pu-erhs are some of the oldest, most complex teas. As Pu-erh teas age, they develop an increasingly earthy aroma and a sweeter, full-bodied taste. They come in many, many forms – loose leaf, compressed and embossed by hand and machine into bricks and cakes of all sizes; aged in bamboo baskets and in stalks, fired and aged in citrus rinds and innumerable materials all to create unusual tea.

Pu-erh tea is made from the strain of Camellia Sinesis called Dayeh, a large-leaf varietal. Pu-erhs are divided into two main classifications – green and “cooked” or oxidized Pu-erhs. With green Pu-erhs, the firing of the leaf is only partial thus allowing the leaf to continue to oxidize slowly over time. “Cooked” Pu-erhs appear darker due to their initial oxidation before firing. These dark teas age well and their flavor improves with time but the degree of change is less than that of green Pu-erhs. Often, Pu-erhs are stored in caves or special underground rooms to allow them to age properly. In fact, the most distinct characteristic of this tea is its ability to age well.

Pu-erhs are bold and earthy, they make a strong statement. Some smell like a wet, mushroomy forest floor. Others are quite spicy or are reminiscent of a single malt scotch. The taste and types are incredibly diverse. You may need to sample several types before you find one that suits your palate.

Health Benefits: Pu-erh, like all classes of tea, contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are important to your health as they counter the harmful effects of an internal process called oxidization. This is a process which can occur when the body's level of antioxidants is insufficient. Drinking Pu-erh is a good source of these antioxidants. Pu-erh offers many of the same health benefits as black tea -- it may strengthen your immune system against colds and flu; it may reduce the risk of heart attack according to a Harvard Medical School study. Pu-erh is a diuretic and improves blood flow. Pu-erh is valued as a means to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure and contribute to the overall health of the Prostate gland. Healthy skin and bones are also attributed to its regular consumption.