Discover The Amazing Pu-erh Tea

Do you like tea? Are you interested in trying something new? Pu-erh tea is one such variety, and it’s something you should definitely try if you haven’t already! Pu-erh tea has a very earthy flavor, aged for many years, and it is so beneficial that it functions in weight loss and cancer prevention. Keep reading to learn more about pu-erh tea!

What is Pu-erh tea?

Pu-erh tea (Pu'er tea) is a variety of fermented tea from Yunnan province, China. It is one of the Chinese black tea. Therefore, people also call it Yunnan tea. Pu-erh tea is unique as it is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are harvested and then fermented. Fermentation is a process that speeds up the natural aging process of tea leaves. That gives pu’er tea its unique flavor. Pu-erh tea can be made using either raw or ripe tea leaves. Raw tea is made from unfermented tea leaves, while ripe Pu-erh tea is made from fermented tea leaves.

Types of Pu-erh tea

There are two main types of pu’erh tea: raw pu’erh and ripe pu’erh. The difference between raw and ripe tea is their different fermentation processes.

• Raw Pu-erh

Raw tea refers to the natural transformation of raw tea without the process of “fermentation,” which is the traditional production method in history.

Raw tea is a tightly pressed tea made from the fresh leaves of Yunnan large-leaf tea trees grown under the environmental conditions of the origin of pu’er tea and then driven through steps such as killing, kneading, sun drying, and steam forming.

The Green cake can also be commonly called raw cake. This is a more traditional processing process. It is the direct pressing of the current year’s tea leaves into cakes without an artificial fermentation process, relying on time and passing years to ferment naturally.

Raw tea from 5 to 10 years old has a smooth taste. Compared to ripe tea, raw tea has a darker green appearance and a somewhat more aromatic and more robust flavor than ripe tea.

• Ripe Pu-erh

Ripe tea is a loose leaf tea, tightly pressed tea formed from Yunnan sunning large leaves. Making ripe tea is a fermented process, promoting the automatic oxidation of polyphenolic compounds, then converted into tea substances. This reduces bitterness and astringency, makes the flavor soft, and shortens the aging stage.

The ripened cakes have been stacked, fermented, and can be consumed directly. Ripe tea cakes are dark black, and the tea leaves are reddish-brown in color. It relieves summer heat, detoxifies the body, and facilitates bowel movements.

Health benefits of Pu-erh tea

Pu-erh tea is a fermented black Chinese tea that has been consumed in China for centuries. It is believed to offer many health benefits, including

#1 Pu-erh tea helps you lose weight

Many people think of pu-erh tea as a drink solely for tea lovers. However, body weight reduction is one of the health advantages of pu-erh tea. A Chinese study shows pu-erh tea’s positive effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. In addition, it validated a panel of FFA indicators with diagnostic and predictive relevance for obesity and diabetes. Another research finding reveals that increasing cinnabarine acid may be a critical strategy for preventing the development of CRD-induced obesity.

#2 Pu-erh tea enhances your cardiovascular health

Most people are familiar with the benefits of green tea, but pu-erh tea is often overlooked. Pu-erh tea is also beneficial for your cardiovascular health. A study has shown that pu-erh tea extracts are thought to help lower blood lipids and avoid atherosclerosis.

#3 Pu-erh tea reduces your risk of cancer

In China, regularly drinking tea can lower the risk of ASCVD morbidity, mortality, and death from any cause. According to the research report, the polymers in pu-erh tea have anti-cancer and anti-high-cholesterol effects, but their chemical makeup is still unknown. In addition, research findings also refer to the anti-oxidation functions of pu-erh tea, which is helpful in reducing heart disease. So, if you want to lower your cancer risk, including pu-erh tea in your diet is a fantastic place to start.

#4 Pu-erh tea improves your digestion and gut health

Several studies have shown that pu-erh tea can be beneficial for gut health. The fermentation process helps to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Beneficial bacteria are essential for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. Drinking old ripe pu-erh tea may help ease and prevent the development of intestinal irritation.

Precautions for drinking Pu-erh tea

It is safe to drink pu-erh tea; however, please be mindful of the following precautions.

#1 Do not drink tea on an empty stomach

Avoid drinking tea on an empty stomach. Otherwise, it will dilute gastric juices, reducing digestive function, which leads to panic, dizziness, headache, weakness, instability, and other symptoms of the occurrence.

#2 Don’t drink tea during menstruation

Women during menstruation are better not to drink tea; otherwise, it may induce or aggravate the menstrual syndrome.

#3 Pregnant women avoid drinking tea

Tea contains many components, such as tea polyphenols, caffeine content, and other substances, which may have many adverse factors on the growth of the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid drinking tea.

Takeaways

Pu-erh tea is a delicious drink with many health benefits. It can help you achieve weight loss goals, enhance your cardiovascular health, reduce your cancer risk, and improve your digestion and gut health. Be sure to follow the precautions above when drinking pu-erh tea and enjoy!

Disclaimer: The original version of this story was published on another platform.

Link to original version: https://medium.com/illumination/discover-the-amazing-pu-erh-tea-a31c12773b62

References

Hu, S., Hu, C., Luo, L., Zhang, H., Zhao, S., Liu, Z., & Zeng, L. (2022). Pu-erh tea increases the metabolite Cinnabarinic acid to improve circadian rhythm disorder-induced obesity. Food Chemistry, 394, 133500. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133500

Hu, S., Li, S., Liu, Y., Sun, K., Luo, L., & Zeng, L. (2021). Aged Ripe Pu-erh Tea Reduced Oxidative Stress-Mediated Inflammation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Mice by Regulating Intestinal Microbes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(36), 10592–10605. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c04032

Hu, S., Li, X., Gao, C., Meng, X., Li, M., Li, Y., . . . Hao, Q. (2022). Detection of composition of functional component the brownies in Pu-erh tea by degradation method. Food Science and Human Wellness, 11(3), 643–647. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2021.12.021

Huang, F., Wang, S., Zhao, A., Zheng, X., Zhang, Y., Lei, S., . . . Jia, W. (2019). Pu-erh Tea Regulates Fatty Acid Metabolism in Mice Under High-Fat Diet [Original Research]. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00063

Xiao, Y., He, M., Liang, X., She, J., He, L., Liu, Y., Yuan, Z. (2018). Pu-erh Tea Ameliorates Atherosclerosis Associated with Promoting Macrophage Apoptosis by Reducing NF B Activation in ApoE Knockout Mice. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2018, 3197829. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3197829

Xiong, C., Peng, Y., Liu, B., Cui, W., & Liu, X. (2019). Anti-Obesity, Anti-Atherosclerotic and Anti-Oxidant Effects of Pu-Erh Tea on a High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rat Model. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, Vol.07№02, 11, Article 90761. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2019.72010