Remarkable Pu-Erh Tea Benefits: A Cup of Wellness!
Tea is an adventurous journey where different tea types make the path beautiful. Have you ever met pu-erh tea in your adventurous tea journey? If not, let's meet and learn about it. If yes, let's know more about it. Some famous tea types from the tea plant (Camelia sinensis) include black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea. A simple step in manufacturing these teas would result in individual differences and deliver distinct characteristics. This story is about one such fantastic tea, particularly its benefits. It's time to learn about Pu-erh tea and Pu-erh tea benefits! It's time to learn about Pu-erh tea and Pu-erh tea benefits!
China is the country that introduced tea and is famous for green tea, which delivers a very smooth, delicate taste. As a country with vast cultural differences, some teas are unique to each region and follow different manufacturing styles. Pu-erh tea is a type of tea that is made exclusively in the Yunnan province of China. Pu-erh tea derives from a different production approach compared with other tea types. Therefore, it has a different texture, taste, and benefits over other teas.
What is Pu-erh Tea Exactly?
Pu-erh tea, pronounced as poo-air, originates from the leaves and stems of the same tea plant from which every other tea results. The tea is native to Yunnan province of China. When manufacturing Pu-erh tea, two main steps take place. In the first stage, freshly picked tender tea leaves will undergo tea processing, similar to average green tea. In the second stage, green tea made in the first stage undergoes fermentation and prolonged storage. Simply put, it is an aging process under high humidity. In this stage, the tea goes through a fermenting process under microbial activities, while the tea ages under humid conditions. Processed tea will soon become available for consumption as loose tea or compressed tea bricks.
As a result of its unique method of processing, Pu-erh tea contains different qualities compared to other tea types, like its unique taste, dark-colored liquor, and a set of specific Pu-erh tea benefits.
Qualities that result in Pu-erh tea benefits
Pu-erh tea is a fermented tea with unique qualities traditionally made in the Yunnan province of China. If you sip this tea just after processing, it possesses raw qualities that give it different attributes than ripened or aged Pu-erh teas. Both of these types are available in the marketplace. Many believe that aged Pu-erh tea gives the best taste and flavor over raw Pu-erh tea. This raw Pu-erh tea is frequently referred to as green Pu-erh tea, and the aged version carries the common term black Pu-erh tea. The qualities of Pu-erh tea can usually depend on its taste and fermentation.
Taste
The taste of pure-erh tea depends on its age. Raw Pu-erh tea is fresh, mellow, and light in taste. It may have flavor notes like woody, smoky, tobacco, floral, or spring lawn notes. Moreover, it may have some bitterness with a sweet aftertaste. Ripen Pu-erh tea has an earthy, mushroom-like taste but is never bitter. Pu-erh tea liquor is reddish brown, which is very similar to black tea. The infusion or brewed Pu-erh tea gives off an aroma of autumn leaves. With age, some Pu-erh teas can appear darker than black tea, with a more full-bodied flavor and aroma.
Fermentation
Fermentation is a process that is very important in this tea. The natural chemicals in tea start oxidation when it fuses with regular air, and in Pu-erh tea, the fermenting time is long as it allows for aging. This long fermentation process aids Pu-erh tea in developing natural chemicals like polyphenols, catechins, flavonoids, lovastatin, and caffeine. Pu-erh tea is the most oxidized tea among all tea types, and aging causes a mellow flavor in it. You won't believe that some Pu-erh teas fall under the luxury category when the age is over 50 years.
Pu-erh tea benefits
When considering the Pu-erh tea benefits, besides the taste and flavor, many people consume it to absorb magical health benefits into their bodies. Pu-erh tea contains more natural chemicals like polyphenols, catechins, flavonoids, and caffeine than other tea varieties because of its fermentation process. The natural chemicals and the development of beneficial fungi and bacteria within the tea during the aging process result in the expected benefits of Pu-erh tea.
Pu-erh tea benefits: Increased Energy
Pu-erh tea is a highly caffeinated tea that causes drinking tea to increase your energy levels and focus. A standard cup of coffee contains 105mg of caffeine, while a cup of Pu-erh tea contains around 60- 70mg of caffeine. So, if you need to boost your energy with a lower caffeine intake, then Pu-erh tea would be the solution. The caffeine in Pu-erh tea can improve mental focus, relax your body, and boost your energy.
Healthy Heart
The natural chemicals in Pu-erh tea can soothe your heart and prevent heart disease. Drinking Pu-erh tea helps to produce lovastatin within your body, which is usually used to treat high cholesterol. Some studies have found that the chemicals available in Pu-erh tea can aid in reducing bad cholesterol, known as LDL cholesterol, while increasing the level of good cholesterol, known as LDL cholesterol. Pu-erh tea can prevent obesity-related diseases as well.
Cleanses Toxins
Pu-erh tea contains oxidative properties that can deliver increased oxygen levels, which help enhance blood circulation and flow. The tea helps combat headaches and migraines by providing more oxygen to the brain. Moreover, it reduces the free radicals that can cause serious illnesses later. In traditional medicine, Pu-erh tea has helped the spleen and stomach filter toxins through the body. Tea's simple sugar and microorganisms help the spleen cleanse the blood and eliminate free radicals. Pu- erh tea benefits in restoring essential body functions and cleansing the body.
Prevents Cancer
The antioxidants available in Pu-erh tea connect with free radicals and help to fight against cancer cells and prevent the growth of new ones. The studies have revealed that Pu-erh tea can target and destroy tumor cells with minimum side effects. The oxidized polyphenols available in Pu-erh tea eliminate free radicals and help to cease the production of irregular cells.
Bone Health
The bones in the human body get weaker with age. The reasons for weakening the bones could be inactivity, lack of vitamins and minerals, smoking, drinking, etc. Severe bone conditions like osteoporosis also occur when you are getting old. The polyphenols in Pu-erh tea develop higher bone mass and increase bone strength. Also, the antioxidants in Pu-erh tea include anti-inflammatory properties and help to minimize pain and discomfort.
Weight Loss
The antioxidants and polyphenols in Pu-erh tea help digestion and fat breakdown. Studies have shown that when you drink Pu-erh tea by the side of a healthy diet and exercise, it can help to lose weight. The hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine can reduce the storing of fatty acids in your body. Pu -erh tea can encourage the production of those hormones in your body. It also suppresses the synthesis of fatty acids. Drinking Pu-erh tea daily with a good diet plan and a well-planned workout to achieve your weight loss goals is ideal.
Reduces Stress
Pu-erh tea contains around 60- 70mg of caffeine in a regular tea cup. This amount of caffeine would not make you jittery and would help you reduce stress during an exhausting day. The inflammatory properties in Pu-erh tea help relax when experiencing minor aches and pains. Natural chemicals like theanine in the tea can lower stress levels, help calm your mind and body, and perfect sleep.
Pu-erh tea benefits: Prevent Overall Illnesses
Pu-erh tea contains antioxidants and vitamins. Having a cup of tea as a routine practice would save you from common illnesses like the common cold and flu. The other tea varieties from the tea plant also have the same properties; however, Pu-erh tea benefits more in preventing illnesses due to its unique manufacturing process.
Side Effects and Precautions
A regular Pu-erh tea cup contains around 60- 70mg of caffeine. The recommended daily caffeine intake is about 400mg. It means that the recommended Pu-erh consumption per day is approximately 4 cups. If caffeine exceeds the recommended level, some side effects could arise, suppressing the Pu-erh tea benefits.
Insomnia
Caffeine can reduce your drowsiness, increase alertness and keep you awake. However, over-consumption would lead to the wrong end and can increase sleeplessness, anxiety, frequent nighttime awakening, and poor sleep quality. These are the symptoms of insomnia, and if you drink too much Pu-erh tea, it can lead to insomnia, or if you already have insomnia, it will get worse.
Dizziness
Over-consumption of caffeine can also reduce blood flow to the brain and cause the feeling of dizziness. It creates light-headedness or unsteadiness. If Pu-erh tea is constantly overused, it could cause dizziness due to high caffeine intake.
Dehydration
High doses of caffeine could create a diuretic effect on the kidneys. When Pu-erh teas are over drunk, the excessive level of caffeine may increase blood flow to your kidneys, forcing them to release more water through urine. It would cause dehydration of your body.
Diarrhea
When taken too much, caffeine is a gastrointestinal stimulant, and it speeds up muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. Therefore, it speeds up transit through the bowel, causing symptoms of diarrhea. So, if Pu-erh tea is consumed too much, it would lead to diarrhea.
Final Thoughts on Pu-erh tea benefits
Pu-erh tea is a unique variety of tea made in Yunnan province of China that has a unique taste profile and many health benefits. It is processed as regular green tea in the initial stage and then allowed to ferment for an extended period under high humidity levels and microbial activities. This unique processing technique creates some necessary natural chemicals in high concentrations available in Pu-erh tea compared to other tea varieties. These chemicals give the power to Pu-erh tea to perform as a tea beverage with medicinal properties that can boost your energy, relax you, and prevent you from many serious illnesses. As per-erh tea contains a high amount of caffeine, excessive use of it could also lead to some side effects.
So, try this special aged tea, experience the difference, and get all Pu-erh tea benefits into the journey of your tea adventure!