Organic Pu-erh Teas
Organic Pu-erh Tea
Named after Pu-erh County in Yunnun, China, Organic Pu-erh Tea is made from the large leaf variety of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The tea is typically identified as a post fermented product. Unlike other teas, which should be consumed shortly after harvesting, Pu-erh is typically aged for many years. This tea is often classified by the region from which it is derived and the year of production, similar to fine wines.
Pu-erh tea comes compressed into a cake or are packaged in loose form. It's a long journey from the tea garden to your cup. These are difficult teas to identify and counterfeit varieties are often found on the market. True Pu-erh teas are 10-50 years old, with some dating back to the Qing Dynasty. At Fraser Tea, varieties of organic pu-erh tea like Polka Dot Bikini Organic Pu-erh Tea offer a treat while helping to break down fat cells.
You can tell a Pu-erh by its earthy, woodsy or mossy flavor. These tea leaves don't easily lose their flavor and can be steeped up to 10 times offering a different level of complexity and depth with each brewing. The more the leaves are steeped, the more mellow the flavor becomes.
Pu-erh is famed for its medicinal properties. Unlike other teas, Pu-erh contains lovastatin, a medicine commonly used in lowering cholesterol levels. A diet rich in Pu-erh may help manage triglycerides and Bad (LDL) cholesterol. In addition, the tea stimulates digestion and contains probiotics which may aid in gut health.