Tea "Puer Shen": properties and unique taste. "Shen Puer" and "Shu Puer": differences

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Pu-erh tea belongs to ancient drinks. It appeared in China and has more than one century. Tea has an unusual taste and aroma. Despite this, Pu-erh gained wide popularity not so long ago. It can be purchased from specialized stores in bulk or in pressed form.

Puer tea - what is it?

Puer tea grows in the Chinese province of Yunnan. There are several hundred large and small industries. They produce tea of different quality, ranging from consumer products to exclusive varieties. Initially, Pu-erh was made in the form of a pressed mold. This was due to the simplicity and ease of transportation and storage. Today, tea is found in loose form, and pressed forms are more a tribute to tradition than a necessity.

Although there are many varieties of tea, only two have made Pu-erh tea popular: Shen and Shu. The first type is the oldest. In China, Shen Puer is called "green", "fresh", "raw" tea. It passesnatural fermentation for many years. Over time, raw materials do not deteriorate, but only improve taste. Shu Puer appeared in the 20th century. This is due to the increased demand for tea. Shu is made for a period of 1 month to 1 year and is called "aged". It belongs to heavily fermented teas.

Shen and shu Pu-erh: differences

The main thing that distinguishes these teas from each other is the process of processing tea leaves. The production technology of Shen Pu-erh is quite simple. Tea leaves dry a little in the open air. The raw material is then pressed into molds. The process of making Shu Pu-erh is much more complicated. Leaves dried in the fresh air are piled up. Then they are poured with water and covered with a cloth to start the debate process. As a result, the leaves will be darker in color, their taste and aroma will change. Ready tea is pressed into molds.

These teas have a number of differences. Puer Shen is a lighter shade, it can be light brown. In the aroma of brewed tea, you can clearly catch a fruity note. The infusion is translucent light brown. After taking a sip, you can feel a pleasant sourness, which is replaced by a sweetish aftertaste.

The color of Shu Puerh tea leaves can be dark brown or black. The aroma of the infusion is quite heavy, earthy, with a woody note. It has a dark brown color, and the taste resonates with the smell. It is heavy, with a touch of oak.

Sheng Pu-erh tea: properties

In addition to excellent taste, the drink isvery helpful. It normalizes digestion and metabolism, lowers cholesterol, removes toxins. Shen fights against the development of cardiovascular diseases, has bactericidal properties. It has a beneficial effect on the liver, skin, strengthens teeth, cleanses the blood, maintains the body's water balance, and improves eyesight.

How to brew?

To make tea, you need to take earthenware or porcelain dishes, but in no case metal. Under the influence of tea, it will oxidize, and the taste of the drink will change. The volume of dishes should be 150-300 ml. For a given amount of water, 5-7 g of tea is enough, i.e. 1 tsp. Then you need to heat the water until bubbles form, but do not boil it. After that, you should wait a minute for the liquid temperature to drop to 95 degrees. It is recommended to pour boiling water over the teapot. The tea itself must first be washed in cold water, and then pour hot and immediately drained. With subsequent brewing, the infusion can be consumed.

There is another way to wash tea. It is brewed twice with boiling water and the liquid is drained. The third and subsequent infusions can be drunk. This treatment is needed to disinfect the tea leaves and better reveal the taste and aroma. If the raw materials used to make Shen Puer are of high quality, then it can be brewed 9 to 15 times. And each time you should increase the time of infusion. However, it must be remembered that strongly brewed Puer Sheng can be bitter. There is a rule: one Sheng can be brewed in one teapot. Over time on the walls of dishesthere is a plaque that cannot be removed with abrasive detergents. It is believed that in such a teapot the drink acquires new shades of taste and aroma.

How to drink?

Tea is recommended to be consumed after meals. It is known that the Chinese do not drink tea with sugar. Sweeteners interfere with the taste of the drink. Pu-erh should not be rushed. First you need to take a sip and hold the drink in your mouth, then slowly swallow it. If you follow the rule, then the tart bitter taste will give way to a pleasant sweetness.

How to choose?

There are several rules that will help you buy quality Shen Pu-erh tea.

1. It is best to give preference to well-known companies. Thanks to significant financial investments in production, the owners acquire high-quality raw materials and hire qualified technologists. But do not rely solely on the brand. It happens that the factory produced an unsuccessful batch. There is also a risk of encountering a fake.
2. The appearance of tea leaves is very important. It should not cause any unpleasant emotions. The leaves should be even, the same size, nice color.
3. Once again, you can verify the quality of the purchase after brewing tea. Opened leaves should be even and beautiful.
4. The notes of prunes present in the aroma and aftertaste of the drink indicate the high quality of tea.

How to store?

If you plan to drink tea in the near future, then special requirements forthere is no capacity or location. If there is a goal to keep Shen Pu-erh for a long time, then it is better to follow the recommendations of tea connoisseurs.

1. Keep away from direct sunlight.
2. The storage location must not be sealed.
3. Make sure that there are no foreign smells near the tea, for example: perfumes, seasonings and spices, citrus fruits, etc.
4. Keep only with other Shens.

Everyone who decides to get acquainted with Pu-erh tea should be patient. Perhaps the first tasting will disappoint, but do not despair. Regardless of whether it was Pu-erh, Shen or Shu, it should be given a second chance. The taste of tea is not revealed immediately, but gradually. And having felt all the charm of this drink, it will be very difficult to refuse it.