Pu-Erh Tea Benefits

What is this Pu-erh Tea?

Pu-erh Tea is a popular health beverage primarily produced in the Yunnan district in southwestern China. The Tea is brewed from leaves that are harvested out of the stems from a Camellia sinensis plant. Pu-erh Tea is often used as natural medicine. This herbal plant is served in the form of green, oolong, and black teas. There are wide varieties that stem from Pu-erh Tea. However, the processing typically involves two stages. 

Initially, this Tea is brewed like green Tea; however, the second stage involves fermentation and prolonged storage. Consumers typically “age” their Pu-erh Tea under high humidity to improve the taste. It is a tricky process that requires concentration. If bacteria sneak in, the Tea can begin to smell musty. The Tea will taste stale due to the growth of living organisms from mould. Consumers typically store the Tea in air-tight containers to prevent the bacteria from attacking the Tea. 

Pu-erh Tea is also helpful for consumers who wish to improve their mental alertness and sharp thinking. It is a drink that promotes concentration and sharpens the attention span. Other benefits include reducing cholesterol, obesity and preventing diabetes.

Chemical properties of Pu-erh Tea 

Pu-erh Tea has a vast chemical composition. This post-fermented beverage has tentative bioactive compounds such as antioxidative, antimutagenic, antimicrobial and laxative. The numerous health benefits of this drink stem from its neuroprotective activities that translate to improved control of hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, obesity and diabetes. 

When in its raw and ripened state, the chemicals offer different extents of their respective processing-induced compound transformations. Depending on where the leaves are planted, the leaves can sometimes contain undesirable heavy metals, mycotoxins and other contaminants. These harmful chemicals are often the result of non-organic tea plantations, processing and storage conditions. In areas where the Tea has gone through successful decontamination, these toxic chemicals are almost non-existent.

Link to research

Chemical constituents and biological properties of Pu-erh Tea

Nutritional Facts Pu-erh Tea

Pu-Erh Tea is a weight-conscious drink that has no carbs. A single teabag contains:

• 0g total carbs
• 0g net carbs
• 0g fat
• 0g protein
• 0 calories

Link to research

Nutritional Facts of Pu-erh Tea

Benefits of Pu-erh Tea

According to WebMD, there are numerous advantages of consuming Pu-erh Tea. 

Promotes weight loss

Consumers typically consider Pu-erh Tea to have weight loss benefits. It is a drink that promotes slimming through improved fat synthesizing. When fat is synthesized faster, the body burns more stored fat. The result of this is improved weight management; however, there are few scientific studies to confirm the results. 

Improves Gut Health

Pu-erh Tea is a fermented drink that promotes healthy probiotics and the production of beneficial gut bacteria. A balanced sugar level can assist with weight management and hunger. The result of this advantage is improved blood sugar control.

Pu-erh Tea must often be consumed in high doses to recognize significant weight loss. Results such as improved body weight, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal fat measurements are often impacted through concentrated extracts of Pu-erh Tea. 

Reduces cholesterol

Animal studies have shown that Pu-erh tea extracts benefit fat blood levels. It is a slim drink because it keeps the fat from being absorbed into your bloodstream. The drink typically helps reduce cholesterol by increasing how much dietary-fat-bound bile acid is excreted. This benefit has the effect of decreasing fat accumulation. You can expect a reduced risk of heart disease from consuming a cup of Pu-erh Tea daily.

Reduces risk of cancer

Most studies have noted the use of highly concentrated extracts on cancer cells; however, few tests exist on the human body. Studies have shown that Pu-erh tea extracts can kill breast, oral, and colon cancer cells. Although promising results, the beverage should not be considered a cancer treatment but a potential risk minimizer.

Improve liver function

Pu-erh Tea helps prevent & reverse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a slimming tea that can help prevent fat accumulation around the liver. These results are intriguing; however, they are mainly based on animal research.

Potential downsides

Pu-erh Tea has numerous health benefits but has a significant amount of caffeine content. Consumers who typically brew their Pu-erh Tea strongly will receive between 30–100 mg of caffeine per cup.

400 mg of caffeine daily is often considered the human limit. The side effects of excessive caffeine can result from consuming several strong cups of Pu-erh Tea. When you first consume this beverage, it can affect your gut. These adverse health symptoms include insomnia, dizziness, arrhythmia, dehydration and diarrhoea. An upset stomach is common when trying fermented drinks for the first few times.

How to make Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh is a fully-oxidized tea that is fermented. This Tea can be brewed from ripe and raw leaf selections. The result is a tea that is as dark and full, complex and hearty. You can expect an intense flavour with a silky, natural, and sweet finish. Consumers typically age their Pu-erh Tea to improve the taste and deep cup colour.

Ripe Pu-erh Leaves

Ripe Pu-erh leaves have been aged and are often loose. To brew this, you need one teaspoon of tea leaves.

1. Start by bringing fresh, filtered spring water to a boil. A temperature of 212℉ is often ideal for brewing the Tea.
2. Preheat your cup with boiling water to ensure the Tea temperature does not drop too quickly. 
3. Add one teaspoon of Pu-erh leaves to the teapot and add 8-10 ounces of boiling spring water.
4. Brew the Pu-erh leaves for 5 minutes. 
5. When the Tea is brewed, you can strain the liquid of any Pu-erh leaves with a basket strainer.
6. Serve the Tea immediately and consume it while hot.

Raw Pu-erh Leaves

Raw leaves are used for a smoother Pu-erh beverage. They are more delicate and are similar to green or white Tea when brewed. Raw Pu-erh leaves are brewed at a lower temperature than aged leaves and are often ready in a shorter time. Over brewing, this Tea can make it coarse and sharp. 

1. Heat fresh spring water until it reaches a boiling temperature of 190℉.
2. Preheat your teacup to keep temperatures consistent. 
3. Place one teaspoon of Pu-erh leaves into the teapot and mix with 8 ounces of hot water.
4. Allow the raw leaves to steep for 3 minutes.
5. Strain the Tea with a basket strainer. 
6. Serve while hot. 

How many cups of [tea name] can you drink?

Three cups (710 mL) of Pu-erh Tea per day is often sufficient to recognize its benefits. These cups should not be combined with other forms of caffeine beverages to prevent caffeine-high symptoms.