What is Pu-Erh tea good for?
That Western obsession with aged foods (or fermented!) had not yet reached the scope of tea.
However, if you travel to China you can see that the aged tea is as much appreciated as the 20-year-old whiskey or the most prized champagne.
Authentic Pu-erh Tea can only be made with a concrete variety of large leaves.
Which is located in the Yunnan region, China, and the borderlands of Burma and Laos.
In Europe, the Pu-erh is popularly known as red tea, but in reality, the world of the Pu – ear is much broader and more interesting.
In the west, it is known as red tea (such as its color).
Although China is the world’s largest producer, it is not a popular tea because for hundreds of years it was consumed only by the nobility.
Related Article: What tea is good for breakfast?
What Is Pu-Erh Red Tea?
Red tea or Pu-erh is mainly produced in Yunnan District, southwest China.
It is made from the leaves and stems of the plant Camellia sinensis.
The same plant that is used to make other outstanding teas such as green, oolong, bancha, kukicha, and black tea.
Although the same plant source is used, different teas are achieved using different processing and harvesting processes.
The Red Tea, Pu-erh is prepared with the ripe leaves of older tea trees.
Which are wider than usual and have different chemistry.
The fresh leaves are placed by hand in giant woks and then dried in the sun.
But not so much as to kill the microbes containing the leaf.
The bacteria transform the tea leaf into a much softer, darker, richer, and more or less sweet product according to the years of aging.
Contraindications of red tea.
We must take into account the contraindications of red tea.
Since being an infusion with a considerable contribution of caffeine and theine to the body, it can cause us to:
- Nervous system disturbances
- Tachycardia
- Hypertension
- Not much should be consumed during pregnancy may interact with other medicines causing side effects.
Red tea, like the rest of the teas, contains caffeine, protein, and theobromine, all of them exciting substances.
Anyway, a cup of red Pu-erh contributes less caffeine than a cup of coffee, approximately 70% less.
The only contraindication to red tea is due to its caffeine concentration.
It is considered that you can drink without problems up to 5 cups of red tea Pu-erh per day.
Related Article: What does caffeine-free tea mean?
What is Pu-Erh tea good for?
Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends Pu-erh tea for its beneficial effects:
Anti-bacterial, Antibiotic, and astringent.
Pu-erh tea could be a natural substitute for antibiotics and astringent products because it has been shown that the main phenolic compound of red tea is responsible for the antiviral, antibacterial, and astringent effects that can fight against the bacteria that cause diarrheal diseases and fever.
Weight loss.
Pu-erh tea, from the Chinese province of Yunnan, is one of the most famous teas.
For years, it was consumed solely and exclusively by the nobility, but, today.
It has become enormously popular due to its history and its taste, aroma, and nutritional value.
Red tea is a popular “fat burner.” It is the most requested tea diet to lose weight.
There is a comparison study of groups of pre-obese Japanese adults.
With a duration of 12 weeks, double-blind, randomized, and controlled for 4 weeks.
After that concluded that subjects treated with Pu-erh tea did not complain of any adverse effects and that there was a reduction in body mass index.
That it could be useful for weight control and the prevention and development of obesity (or metabolic syndrome) in humans.
Studies like this one ensure that red tea slims down.
Prevention of heart disease.
Scientists found that substances contained in red tea, and flavonoids help reduce the production of LDL “bad” cholesterol.
Increased cholesterol is a risk for heart attacks and strokes.
The study also found that men drank more than 4 cups of red tea a day.
Had a lower risk of stroke than those who only drank two cups.
Studies conducted by the American Heart Association have confirmed that people who drink Pu-erh tea have a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Healthy people produce a substance called nitric acid that manages to dilate the arteries.
However, when suffering from coronary heart disease the arteries do not dilate normally.
Red tea stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which helps people with cardiovascular problems.
Related article: Red Clover Tea Benefits.
Anticancer.
The caffeine, epicatechin, and major polyphenolic compounds in Pu-erh tea have an antimutagenic and antimicrobial effect.
These compounds are capable of interfering with the agents that cause DNA mutations, which can lead to the development of cancer.
Pu-erh tea inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation and can inhibit the growth of tumor cells within 24 hours.
It has also shown good results in oral and colon cancer cells but it must be taken into account that these studies are carried out by applying concentrated extracts in cell cultures.
If they also lead to further research, they do not study the effects of tea ingested.
Much more research is needed to know the effects of ingested tea in the possible treatment of cancer
Provides antioxidants.
As with other types of teas, red tea contains antioxidants, molecules that help our immune system slow down the effects of cellular aging.
Antioxidants are present in fruits, vegetables, and foods such as coffee, tea, or chocolate.
They are natural phytochemicals that help the body fight free radicals, so by consuming them daily we help the immune system.
Nitric oxide is a very abundant compound in our body that fulfills vasodilator and neurotransmitter functions.
It is given qualities for virility it has been shown to help male erection.
However, it can be an accelerator of aging since it is a substance that releases large amounts of free radicals that affect the cells causing them to age earlier.
Good for cholesterol.
Red tea or Pu-erh has been found to contain situations relatively recently.
In pharmacology, statins are a group of drugs used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in their various forms.
Numerous clinical studies confirm that statins decrease the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular diseases and this may be due to their anti-inflammatory and blood lipid-lowering effects.
Related article: The health benefits of green tea.
How Pu-Erh Tea acts in our body.
Red tea or Pu-erh contains high levels of polyphenols (flavonoids, catechins, and theaflavin), which are known for their antioxidant activity.
These powerful chemicals provide properties that accelerate fat burning and reduce stress and heavy metal consumption due to the cellular repair compounds found inside.
Theanine and flavonoids, found in Pu-Erh Tea bring important benefits by helping digestion after meals by acting as a sponge and fat-burning accelerator.
It also contains caffeine, which works by stimulating the central nervous system, heart, and muscles.
Differences between Red Tea and Pu-Erh Tea.
The tasting notes of black teas can vary from region to region, although notes of wood, tobacco, and raisins almost always predominate.
Each territory brings its peculiarities, so it is interesting to try black teas of different origins and thus discover their differences.
The aroma and taste profile of the Pu-Erh can have earthy aromas, powder, and even moisture.
In the end, we can discover interesting notes of raisin fruits that are accentuated over the years, which justifies the wait for their aging.
This robustness is given by its production process, in which a fermentation stage is involved.
Related article: What tea to drink instead of coffee for breakfast?
Brewing Suggestions.
Freshwater is essential for brewing a proper cup of tea.
- Recommended temperature: 205┬░
- Cover and steep to taste.
- Remove the tea bag and enjoy!
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