Are you familiar with Pu-Erh tea? This tea is a variety of dark tea that comes from China, specifically Yunnan Province. It is aged through a fermentation process that causes the tea leaves to withstand microbial fermentation and oxidation after the drying process. In China, this process is known as Hei Cha, which can be translated as black or dark tea. Since the tea is aged through a highly-specific, rigorous process, it has a unique flavor that is rich and earthy. With such a dark brew, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you aren’t familiar with Pu-Erh tea, here are some interesting things you should know about this tea.
The Price Per Pound Skyrocketed Several Years Ago
From the years 1999 through 2007, the price of this tea went up nearly 10 times. That means that the price rose twice in less than a year’s time. The price of the leaves have been all over the map. At certain points, it was merely $3 per pound. Other times as much as $150 per pound and then still other times, around $30. Since the price escalated and people were willing to pay the price, many farmers in the Yunnan Province became millionaires. With such a booming business, investors were putting a lot of stock in the sales of this particular tea. Eventually, tea traders stopped trading, and the investors pulled out of the market. This led to a “bust” — prices dipped to something much more reasonable.
Pu-Erh Tea Can Be Compared to Fine Wine
Wine isn’t the only thing that ages and becomes better with time. Pu-Erh tea has a post-ferment stage that means the tea gets better over the course of the years. To complete the aging process, it could take 15 years. In 1973, growers learned how to accelerate these processes in order to complete it much sooner than that. Most teas are best brewed right after production. Pu-Erh, on the other hand, gets better with age.
The Government in China Attempted to Protect The Leaves
Back in 2008, the Chinese government tried to limit where the leaves could be grown in Yunnan Province. It was narrowed down to 11 cities and prefectures and 639 towns. The reason the government intervened was to attempt to establish a brand similar to wines in France or Tequila in Mexico. If the tea was only allowed to grow in certain areas, they would be able to authenticate the brand. Of course, plenty of producers of the leaves have worked to fight against this effort. Those in the Guangdong Province have fought the hardest for the right to grow the leaves.
The tea can be packed as loose leaf or in shapes such as a cake or brick. Traditionally, the tea has been shaped in these shapes, but is not limited to these shapes. During the production of this tea, the leaves can be placed into bricks and cakes which generally weigh around 357 grams. Collectors will actually hold onto these bricks and allow them to age further. The longer they hold onto them, the more valuable the leaves become.
Some Believe The Tea Can Get Rid of a Hangover
If you have ever had a hangover, then you know how ready you are to try anything to get rid of it. Some people believe that this tea can cure the symptoms experienced with a hangover. The Chinese believe that the brew can restore balance to your spleen and stomach. Also, it is believed that the high water content can hydrate the body and relieve the effects of dehydration.
The Brew Can Help to Lower Cholesterol
As with any food or drink, not everyone experiences the same thing when it is consumed. However, many people have used Pu-Erh tea to help reduce cholesterol and feel that they have been successful. When it comes to heart health, anything you try is worthwhile. Researches have done tests to determine why they think the tea reduces cholesterol in some individuals. They think that the bacteria in the tea creates lovastatin in the aging process. This is used to increase good cholesterol levels. According to the studies that have been done on animals, this tea is the only type of tea that can raise good cholesterol, or HDL. Not only does it raise the good levels, but it helps to reduce bad cholesterol, or LDL. Regardless, if you want to drink this tea for flavor or for health benefits, it is definitely worth trying. Plenty of people have spent a lot of time and energy growing and processing these amazing leaves into a delicious flavor.
* The inspiration for this post came from: http://www.teagalaxy.com/pu-erh-tea/6-interesting-facts-about-pu-erh-tea/.