Pu-erh tea: benefits, application, contraindications, preparation

Some have heard of him, some have not. Someone wants to taste it, someone tasted it and fell in love with an unforgettable aroma incomparable with anything - puer tea. What is this kind of drink that is familiar at first glance? Where it comes from and how to brew it correctly - you will learn from this article.  

What is Puerh

Puerh is a post-fermented tea produced in China's Yunnan province. It is distinguished by a unique production technology: first, the leaves are harvested, then processed to the level of green tea, after which they are subjected to a fermentation process (artificial or natural aging). Puerh is one of the seven categories of teas in China.

"Tea" history stretches back from the 7th century, however, then it had a different name. And it got its distribution thanks to visitors who marveled at the youth and vigor of the local peoples. Everyone strove to find out the secret of such liveliness, but the aborigines answered one thing, that they like to drink tea from a place where there is a lot of water. As it turned out later, "puer" in translation from the ancient Chinese language means "a place where there is a lot of water." Over time, the fame of pu-erh has gone all over the world and now everyone has a chance to try this drink and feel all the healing power.

How to choose pu-erh tea correctly

To begin with, it is worth remembering that quality pu-erh tea is produced at factories: Mеnghai, Xiaguаn, Shuаngjiang, Mеngku. Someone is used to relying on the opinion and advice of sales consultants, but this is not worth doing. It is better to be at least a little savvy in this matter yourself, because he will benefit you, not him. The goal of the seller is to sell as much of the product as possible, not to satisfy the customer's need. Therefore, do not think that the more expensive the tea, the better it is.

Pay attention to the packaging and storage conditions of the tea. According to all the rules, like any other tea, it should be located in a cool dry place with constant air access. It is better if the packaging is original, its quality is difficult to confuse with something. It is designed so that the product can "breathe". Therefore, it is better not to purchase tea, which is packaged in sealed bags, mold may develop there.

It will be good if there is an opportunity to feel the aroma of tea. The bouquet depends directly on age - the older it is, the more woody it has. There should be no extraneous and unpleasant odors. Tea tends to absorb the smells of the place in which it was stored, therefore, under improper conditions, it will exude unpleasant "aromas".

Look at the color of the tea. Long-term tea briquettes have a reddish tint, short-term tea briquettes have a greenish tint. Remember, pu-erh is never pure black. The briquette should not have any foreign colors - yellow, white, etc. Any blotches of a different color are an indicator that the tea has begun to deteriorate. Make sure that the tea packaging is complete and free from defects.

Better yet, read store and tea reviews before you go shopping. So it will be easier to decide, and the chances of running into a low-quality product will significantly decrease.

If you have never drunk pu-erh before, then we advise you to start your acquaintance with a fermented variety, it is simpler and does not have such exotic as "raw". It is better to switch to the last grade after you get used to the weak one.

Puer tea benefits

Pu-erh tea has a lot of useful properties and it will be difficult to list them all. It is not for nothing that it has been so popular in China for more than one century. We present to your attention a list of the main beneficial qualities of the drink:

• lowers blood sugar levels;
• helps to quickly get rid of constipation;
• removes bad cholesterol from the body;
• restores and cleans up liver;
• has a powerful tonic effect - this is probably the strongest natural energetic that quickly helps to restore concentration;
• reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack;
• removes heavy metals, poisons, toxins and other filth from the body;
• increases appetite;
• purifies the blood and intestines;
• evens out the tone of the face and promotes long-term preservation of youthfulness of the skin;
• vitamins contained in tea have a good effect on the condition of hair and nails;
• regular consumption of tea is the prevention of cancer.

Pu-erh tea harm

The harm of tea comes from the moment it is consumed on an empty stomach. This is due to the presence of enzymes in it that start work gastrointestinal tract... Frequent such drinking leads to the development of heartburn and pain in the stomach.

Also, in order to protect yourself from the harmful properties of the drink, it must be prepared correctly. We will describe how this is done just below. Do not overuse pu-erh. A safe dose for a healthy adult is three cups a day. Do not drink it before bed, as it contributes to the development of insomnia and, as a result, malfunctions of the nervous system.

Otherwise, there are no contraindications. The most powerful harm can be caused by a poor-quality product that was collected in ecologically polluted places. Therefore, be careful when choosing your tea.

Contraindications for pu-erh

Among other things, it would be correct to consider the contraindications that Pu-erh tea has. This is primarily due to the individual intolerance to the product. Puerh should never be drunk strongly brewed. It is unnecessary to think that the stronger the tea is, the stronger its properties will be - the healing qualities are perfectly activated in a weak brew.

Tea is contraindicated:

• if you have a high temperature, its consumption can aggravate the situation and raise it even higher;
• if you are going to go to bed - it is characterized by a strong tonic and invigorating effect, which is guaranteed to lead to insomnia and stress;
• tea is also not recommended during pregnancy;
• it is also advisable not to give this drink to children under the age of three;
• during lactation, restrictions on its use are imposed - no more than one cup;
• hypertensive patients are contraindicated to get involved in a drink, as it increases blood pressure;
• people suffering from urolithiasis, since tea has a pronounced diuretic effect, which can provoke the movement of stones and severe pain;
• with improper brewing, tea intoxication can occur, which is expressed in vomiting and a strong heartbeat.

Types of Puerh

In general, there are two types of pu-erh, or rather categories. These are Shu Puer - black, ready-made and Shen Puer - raw, green. The latter is especially liked by gourmets, who are very fond of collecting it. For a long time, Shen Puer was popular among the people, and only after some time was Shu Puer invented.

To make the tea tasty, flushes are harvested with 3-4 leaves, which is due to their long stay on the branch, and this guarantees good mineralization. All this greatly affects the taste and aroma.

Pu-erh tea comes in different shapes:

• Mushroom (curled).
• Square.
• Pumpkin.
• Brick.
• Bowl / Nest.
• Pancake / Flatbread.

Pu-erh taste

The taste of tea directly depends on the variety and the duration of its maturation. For example, fresh Sheng Puerh has a tart and astringent taste. Aged variety has a pronounced fruity aroma, has a sweet taste, in which you can catch notes of ripe pear. If we talk about the Shu Puer variety, then with special processing it will be similar to Shen Puer. However, according to gourmets, the taste of aged Sheng Puer still does not resemble Shu, it is rougher and does not have the subtlety of taste. But all agree on one thing, the taste of Shu Puer resembles notes of chocolate and dried fruit, woody notes are heard, and the aftertaste of mint and camphor.

By the way, cheap and low-quality pu-erh tea can have a fish and earth aroma. Having risked and bought cheap tea in an incomprehensible store, there are many chances to run into it. It is these victims who complain that puer is "fu, how disgusting." Don't skimp and find only bona fide tea sellers.

How to brew pu-erh tea

Let us mention right away that it is very important to use soft water when brewing. Pu-erh should be brewed in small portions. By the way, this tea can withstand five to fifteen infusions without losing its taste and healing properties.

What you need to make tea:

• A special Chinese cup with wide edges and a lid, in which it is easy to brew any teas - gaiwan. If there is no such dish, you can replace it with a small teapot, the volume of which is 100 ml, or with a wide porcelain bowl, which can later be covered with a saucer.
• A kettle for boiling water and a thermos that will store hot water. By the way, it is better to choose a thermos with a glass flask.
• Sieve. It will help filter out the tea, as dust is sometimes found in it.
• Chahai or its analogue milkman. Gaiwan tea is poured into this container through a sieve. The main task of chacha is to achieve a single infusion, especially if the tea party takes place in the company of several people.

So, the dishes are prepared, you can proceed directly to work with the product.

It is customary to remove layers from pressed pu-erh with a sharp knife, but in order to fuss less, you can simply break off a piece. For 100 ml of water, about 10 g of dry product is required. Regardless of which variety or type of pu-erh was chosen, the brewing sequence remains unchanged.

1. Soak. Place the prepared dry tea leaves in the gaiwan. Cover with cold water and let sit for 1-5 minutes. During this time, all specks and dust will come out of the tea. It is normal for the water to darken.
2. The water must be brought to a boil, but in no case should it be allowed to boil. Pour the prepared liquid into a thermos.
3. Pour the pu-erh into the first portion of the hot liquid, then drain it immediately. Now the dust has finally come out. It is customary to rinse chahai and cups with this pale broth. Give the tea about forty seconds to steam under the lid.
4. Pour in a new portion of the liquid and let the pu-erh brew for about 3-5 seconds and you can pour it through a sieve into the chahai. You can start using it.

This completes the first brewing. The next infusion should be reduced to a couple of seconds. With each infusion, the tea will become more aromatic and richer in taste. Subsequent brews, you can increase the time, up to 30 seconds. With experience, you will learn to determine when "enough is enough."

How to drink pu-erh

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of tea and its brewing, but you can use it in the usual, familiar way. Just do not drink the drink on an empty stomach and before going to bed.

If you want to become a true connoisseur of Chinese tea, you can build yourself a special place where bowls, gaiwan and a small table will stand. Here, as they say, is already a matter of individual taste.

Puerh: reviews

People were divided into two groups: those who really liked the tea and those who somehow spat after the first sip and asked the question “how can you drink it?”. And this is quite natural. Yes, pu-erh tea tastes significantly different from what the average person is used to drinking and you need to get used to it. And if the first acquaintance took place with a cheap fake or a variety with a smack of rotten herring, then what can we talk about.

In general, it is wrong to judge the tastes of a product by the opinions of outsiders, because, as the saying goes, there are no comrades for taste and color. If you want to experience this unique drink for yourself, try it, just approach it responsibly and do not be stingy.