Pu-erh Tea

What is Pu-erd Tea?

Pu-erh tea is a tea type which the producer selects carefully top bud and 2-3 tea leaves from the ancient tea trees and Shan tea trees. All of tea trees belong to C. sinensis var. assamica in the high mountains. The place where clouds cover all year round and the difference of temperature between day and night is high. In Vietnam, there are some provinces like: Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai and Dien Bien have ancient tea trees. But Ha Giang has larger forest where has many ancient tea trees and Shan tea inside.

Scientifically, Pu erh tea undergoes post-processing fermentation. Normally, this step will happen during storage time. If we compare between pu erh with others tea, the oxidation will happen in the manufacturing process.

Because of that, the post-processing fermentation improves the taste of tea. It reduces the bitter to be sweeter and the strong taste to be light. And gradually the tea leaves will change during the storage time, from green color to yellow and black later.

Like the Yixing teapot that is associated with Yixing clay which belongs to Jiangsu province. Pu erh tea is also closely tied to the tea qualities of the Pu erh region, near southern China. The place where has ancient tea trees that grow wild in the high mountains with good quality.

How to make a good cup of pu erh tea?

The producer storge pu erh tea by pressing it like round cake or mini one which shape is very hard. So, when brewing this tea, we should use high temperature around 95℃ (203℉). If we use the lower degree, the tea leaves won’t open enough and the taste isn’t good.

There are some techniques to make a good tea cup:

• Firstly: preheat the teaset by boiling water, then pouring the amount of tea leaves into the teapot. You can control your taste by the amount of tea leaves.
• Next: Wake up the tea leaves: pour the hot water into teapot with temperature is 95℃ (203℉) for 1 minute.
• Finally: steeping tea: pour the hot water into teapot with temperature is 95℃ (203℉) for 20 – 25 seconds. Then pour out of tea water into each tea cup and enjoy. Remember that open the lid the teapot while waiting for the next infusion.

Pu erh tea can be brewed more than 10 infusions.

Effects of Pu-erh tea

To date, scientists from China, Japan and Europe have conducted many studies on the nutritional and medicinal values ​​of Pu-erh tea. Thanks to in-depth research, many miraculous properties of Pu-erh tea have been discovered.

Below are some of the effects of Pu-erh Tea on human health:

• Drinking Pu-erh tea regularly will help reduce  blood fat .
•  Pu-erh tea has the effect of reducing triphosphoglycerin and free fatty acids. Inhibits cholesterol formation and increases cholesterol excretion.
• Reduces fatty compounds and isolipids,  reduces cholesterol  in the body.
• Reduce blood sugar ;
• Effects of treating coronary atherosclerosis;  preventing arteriosclerosis ;
• Has the effect of  lowering blood pressure ;
• Has a very clear inhibitory effect  on bacteria, fungi and yeast ;
• Strongly inhibits the growth of cancer cells . Can increase the production of immune cells in the body;
• Has a slimming effect  ;
• Has the ability to eliminate free radicals;
• Has a certain effect on preventing radiation infection but has no effect on restoring damage after radiation infection;
• Reduce  the toxicity of tobacco ….

How to brew Pu-erh Tea

How to preserve Pu-erh tea

Preserving or storing tea does not change the quality of the tea (aftertaste), it cannot turn a bad tea into a good one. But this process changes the flavor of the tea, which is unique to each age. Initially, the tea is yellow-brown, gradually turning to amber, then black-brown, and finally dark black.

Tea aged 1-3 years will have a flavor similar to green tea, with a more herbaceous aroma. Tea aged 3-5 years will have a fruity aroma and continue to change to a woody aroma. Many people think that a musty or earthy smell indicates that the tea is old. In fact, it is because the tea has been stored incorrectly.

Here’s how you should store your tea:

1. If using immediately : remove the tea into small pieces, place in an open paper bag, in a cool, dry place.
2. Leave it for a while and then drink : also take the tea apart but put it in a cardboard box or unglazed earthenware jar.
3. Long term storage : Store in a sealed container or completely vacuum sealed.

If the tea has a musty or strange smell, you can let it air dry for a few days and the smell will disappear. The joy of drinking Pu-erh tea is to discover how the flavor changes over time. It is like you are participating in the process of creating its flavor.