Puer tea: benefits, application, contraindications, preparation

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

What is puer

Pu-erh is a post-fermented tea produced in the Yunnan province of China. It is distinguished by a unique production technology: first, the leaves are collected, then processed to the level of green tea, and then subjected to a fermentation process (artificial or natural aging). Pu-erh is one of the seven categories of teas in China.

The “tea” history dates back to the 7th century, although then it had a different name. And it spread 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 only that they liked to drink tea from a place where there was a lot of water. As it turned out later, “puer” translated from ancient Chinese means “a place where there is a lot of water.” Over time, the fame of pu-erh has spread throughout the world and now everyone has a chance to try this drink and feel all its healing power.

How to choose the right pu-erh tea

To begin with, it is worth remembering that high-quality pu-erh tea is produced in factories: Menghai, Xiaguan, Shuangjiang, Mengku. Some people are used to relying on the opinions and advice of sales consultants, but this should not be done. It’s better to be at least a little savvy in this matter, because it will benefit you, not him. The seller's goal is to sell as much 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 access of air. It is better if the packaging is original; its quality is difficult to confuse with anything else. It is designed to allow the product to “breathe”. Therefore, it is better not to purchase tea that is packaged in sealed bags, as mold may develop there.

It’s good if you have the opportunity to smell the aroma of tea. The bouquet depends directly on age - the older it is, the more woody aroma it has. There should be no foreign or unpleasant odors. Tea tends to absorb the odors of the place in which it was stored, so under inappropriate conditions it will emit unpleasant “aromas”.

Look at the color of the tea. Long-aged tea briquettes have a reddish tint, short-aged tea briquettes have a greenish tint. Remember, pu-erh is never pure black. The briquette should not have any extraneous colors - yellow, white, etc. Any inclusions of a different color are an indication that the tea has begun to deteriorate. Make sure that the tea packaging is intact and without defects.

Better yet, before going, read reviews about the store and the tea before making a purchase. This will make it easier to decide, and the chances of running into a low-quality product will be significantly reduced.

If you have never drunk pu-erh before, we advise you to start getting acquainted with the fermented variety; it is simpler and does not have such exotic properties as the “raw” one. It is better to switch to the latter variety after you get used to the weak one.

Puer tea benefits

Pu-erh tea has many beneficial properties and it would be difficult to list them all. It’s not for nothing that it has been so popular in China for centuries. 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 cleanses liver;
• has a powerful tonic effect - this is probably the most powerful natural energy drink that quickly helps restore concentration;
• reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack;
• removes heavy metals, poisons, toxins and other nasty things from the body;
• increases appetite;
• cleanses the blood and intestines;
• evens out facial tone and promotes long-term preservation of skin youth;
• the vitamins contained in tea have a good effect on the condition of hair and nails;
• Regular consumption of tea helps prevent cancer.

Puer tea is harmful

The harm of tea begins from the moment it is consumed on an empty stomach. This is due to the presence of enzymes in it that start the work gastrointestinal tract. Frequent drinking of this type 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 tell you how this is done below. Don't overuse pu-erh. A safe dose for a healthy adult is three cups per day. Do not drink it before bed, as this contributes to the development of insomnia and, as a result, disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system.

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

Pu-erh contraindications

Among other things, it would be correct to consider the contraindications that pu-erh tea has. This is primarily due to individual intolerance to the product. Pu-erh should never be drunk strongly brewed. There is no need to think that the stronger the tea, the stronger its properties will be - the healing qualities are perfectly activated even 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 bed - it is characterized by a strong tonic property and an 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 three years of age;
• during lactation, restrictions on its consumption are imposed - no more than one cup;
• It is contraindicated for hypertensive patients to indulge in the 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;
• If brewed incorrectly, tea intoxication can occur, which results in vomiting and palpitations.

Types of Pu'er

In general, there are two types of pu-erh, or rather categories. This is Shu Puer - black, ready and Shen Puer - raw, green. The latter is especially popular with gourmets who love 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 collected 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.

Puer tea comes in different forms:

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

Puer taste

The taste of tea directly depends on the variety and duration of its ripening. For example, fresh Shen Puer has a tart and astringent taste. The aged variety has a pronounced fruity aroma and a sweet taste, in which you can detect 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 Shen Puer is still not like Shu, it is coarser and does not have the subtlety of taste. But everyone agrees on one thing: the taste of Shu Puer is reminiscent of notes of chocolate and dried fruits, woody notes are heard, and the aftertaste is mint and camphor.

By the way, cheap and low-quality pu-erh tea can have the aroma of fish and earth. If you take a chance and buy cheap tea in an unknown shop, you have a lot of chances to run into it. It is these victims who complain that pu-erh is “ugh, so disgusting.” Don't save money and find only conscientious tea sellers.

How to brew puer tea

Let us immediately mention that when brewing it is very important to use soft water. Pu-erh should be brewed in small portions. By the way, this tea can withstand from five to fifteen brews 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 you can easily brew any tea - gaiwan. If you don’t have such dishes, you can replace them with a small teapot with a volume of 100 ml, or with a wide porcelain bowl, which can later be covered with a saucer.
• A kettle for boiling water and a thermos in which hot water will be stored. By the way, it is better to choose a thermos with a glass flask.
• Sieve. It will help filter the tea, because sometimes dust is found in it.
• Chahai or its equivalent milk jug. Tea from the gaiwan is poured into this container through a sieve. The main task of chakhai is to achieve a single infusion, especially if tea drinking occurs in the company of several people.

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

It is customary to remove the layers from pressed pu-erh using a sharp knife, but to make less fuss, you can simply break off a piece. For 100 ml of water you will need about 10 g of dry product. Regardless of what variety or type of pu-erh was chosen, the brewing sequence remains the same.

1. Soak. Place the prepared dry tea leaves in a gaiwan. Fill with cold water and leave for 1-5 minutes. During this time, all specks and dust will come out of the tea. The water will take on a dark tint - this is normal.
2. The water should be brought to a boil, but under no circumstances should it be allowed to boil. Pour the prepared liquid into a thermos.
3. Pour the first portion of hot liquid into the pu-erh, then drain it immediately. Now the dust is completely gone. It is customary to rinse chahai and cups with this pale-colored decoction. Give the tea about forty seconds to steam under the lid.
4. Pour in a new portion of 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 concludes the first brew. The next infusion should be reduced to a couple of seconds. With each brew, the tea will become more aromatic and richer in taste. Subsequent brews can be increased in 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 consume it in the usual, familiar way. Just don't drink the drink on an empty stomach or before going to bed.

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

Puer: reviews

People were divided into two groups: those who really liked the tea and those who somehow spit 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 that tastes like rotten herring, then what can we talk about.

In general, it is wrong to judge the taste of a product based on the opinions of outsiders, because, as the saying goes, there are no friends according to taste and color. If you want to experience this unique drink for yourself, try it, just choose it responsibly and don’t be stingy.