PUERH TEA

Puer or Po Leh in Cantonese, is the finest quality tea available anywhere in the world. It can be brewed straight off the shelf or even 50 years after you buy it - it has no expiry date. In fact, the longer you keep this tea, the more refined and flavorsome it becomes, much like a good bottle of wine. Pu'erh gets its name from a town in the southwestern province of the Yunnan region, and though tea is not grown in this town, it was at one time a thriving tea market.

Although dark Pu'erh tastes much like black tea, it is not black or oolong tea, but falls into a category of its own. Pu'erh is processed much like black tea with the exception of a couple steps. The tea is picked, processed and partially fired allowing the leaves to retain moisture. The slightly moist tea is then piled. The natural bacterium on the leaves creates a reaction similar to that of a compost pile. The tea is then aged, in special underground rooms or caves, adding to its unique character. One of the most significant distinctions of this tea is that it gets better over time. These aged teas are prized and can be found in vintages, like wine, some dating back 40 to 50 to 100 years.

TYPES OF PU'ERH: The two main classifications of Pu'erh are Green, and Dark or oxidized Pu'erh. The tuo cha, meaning pressed, is a dark Pu'erh. Tuo cha's were developed in early China trade because the teas were bulky and hard to transport. Tea was pressed to compact the leaf reducing the size of the loads for long journeys. Dark Pu'erh is the easiest to brew; unlike traditional tea preparation you can't over brew this tea. Prepare Pu'erh with the hottest water possible and steep for 5-7 minutes or longer if you like. You can wash your tealeaves once or twice to optimize the flavor. No matter what you do it is almost impossible to ruin this tea!

HEALTH BENEFITS: Whether in tuo cha or loose leaf forms, these unique teas have long been used in China for the medicinal benefits.

» The soothing properties, aid digestion and are perfect after heavy or greasy meals.
» Studies have shown that drinking 2 glasses of this tea a day reduces the risk of cancer by 50%
» keeps you immune system strong
» your digestive system active, which contributes to weight loss
» more recent studies indicate powerful cholesterol lowering effects, blood cleansing properties

RESEARCH & STUDIES: The most eye opening study was conducted in France several years ago. A blind study was conducted with 500 hyperlipidemia patients (individuals with advanced cholesterol conditions, usually controlled with medication). Half of the controlled group consumed 3-4 cups of Pu'erh daily, while the rest of the participants were given something else. After a 30-day period the results showed that drinking Pu'erh on a regular basis could significantly lower cholesterol and further research confirmed that Pu'erh was as effective as the most advanced cholesterol lowering medications available. This is just one of the many healthy benefits of this delicious tea.