Detox, Weight Loss, Cancer Prevention – Pu erh the “Living Wonder Tonic Medicinal Tea”

Americans have just recently been introduced to Pu erh Tea within recent years, however Pu erh has been around for thousands of years. Pu erh tea has been documented in many ancient Chinese scripts and books as a medicinal tea used for prevention of heart disease and cancer, removal of toxins and fatty grease after a heavy meal, diabetic control, aiding digestion and weight loss, blood circulation, improving eyesight, battle the effects of alcohol intoxication and even anti-aging.

There are two main categories of Pu erh, dark and green, however, we have recently seen white pu erh hitting the market by a few serious tea shops, however, the white pu erh is basically a white/green mix. Dark Pu erh is a lot like black tea and oolong, yet falls into a category of its own. The differences in the way the tea is processed creates a type of tea unlike all others. Pu erh leaves are generally picked all year long instead of seasonal, however you can find seasonally picked pu erhs being marketed as well. Pu erh production generally involves steaming the leaves, pressing the leaves and aging the leaves. The leaves natural bacterium creates ferments and ages the tea like a wine. This fermentation makes pu erh unique in the spectrum of teas. The fermentation gives the tea a “earthy” aroma, kind of like goats milk or “farm-like”. This aroma and taste usually turns you away the first couple of cups if you are sensitive to such aromas. However, it is quickly adapted and becomes a flavor that pu erh drinks crave and appreciate in a good cup of pu erh. Dark pu erh has a stronger aroma than green pu erh, green pu erhs are usually quite delicate.

Pu erh generally will not go bitter like most tea. You can boil it hard for 5 mins and get an espresso quality shot of concentrated pu erh tea as well without the hard bitterness. Pu erh is best sweetened with a little honey or cane sugar and tastes outstanding with a little cream. However, if you are detoxing, just add a little honey, or blend some of your favorite flavored tea with the pu erh to change the level of sweetness to be desired.

The fermentation allows the pu erh to age like a wine, it also gives the tea a large amount of chi. Pu erh is known as the “living tea” due to the live microbes that continue to age the tea over many years. Some say these living microbes are responsible for the health benefits of pu erh. They jump start metabolism, they detox and flush the digestive track as well as do many other wonderful things to aid our well being.

Pu erh is regarded as a member of tea’s elite royalty. Like a fine wine, each batch has its own unique flavor and characteristics. A pu erh drinker could adore one batch and detest another according to the batches fine profile characteristics.

Pu erh can be found in many forms and shapes. Generally, pu erh is compressed into “touchas” or “bowls”. Mini touchas are small pot sized bowls, while cakes are large disks, bricks, bowls, melons and many other creative shapes. Pu erh can be found stuffed into aged tangerines or roasted bamboo, as well as, simple loose leaf.

Pu erh… the living tea… full of chi!