Black tea Pu-erh: taste, collection, production, properties and nuances of brewing

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

What is black Pu-erh tea? Why is he good? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article. Pu-erh tea is an exceptional drink of its kind, which has no analogues all over the world. Its best varieties are obtained from leaves that are not collected from small tea bushes, but from trees. The older the plant becomes, the more refined the tea itself and the more attractive and useful its qualities. What is Pu-erh black tea famous for, we will find out below.

Feature

The originality of Pu-erh is that it is a "live" food, fermentation processes constantly occur in it, affecting both its quality and taste.

Pu-erh is transformed every year and acquires completely new shades. Someone prefers a more mature pu-erh, and someone likes a young, unseasoned one. It's a matter of taste.

Name

History says that Pu-erh was the birthplace of black teathe village of the same name and adjacent areas in Yunnan province. In these places, today you can find tea trees that are more than a thousand years old! The very word "Pu-Er" looks like two Chinese characters. These symbols during the years of the Han Dynasty called the tiny town, located 370 km south of the village of Kunming.

This place used to be an impressive outlet that distributed tea throughout China. As a result, the tea itself began to be called “puer cha”, which meant “tea from the village of Puer”.

However, the word "puer" is often interpreted differently. "Pu" is the abbreviated name of the bodhisattva Puxian, "er" means "ears" or "ear". Therefore, the phrase itself marks the “ears of the bodhisattva Puxian”, and this peculiarly conveys the type of some versions of Big Leaf Pu-erh.

Cooking

How is black Pu-erh tea produced? When created, it goes through the following phases:

1. Collecting tea leaves.
2. Withering of raw materials.
3. Twisting (this term refers to various actions on the tea leaf in order to mechanically destroy the cells to produce tea juice).
4. Pressing raw materials.
5. Pu-erh fermentation. This action can be carried out at the time of transportation and subsequent storage of tea.

Tea leaves plucked from wild trees have a more delicate taste and a characteristic "menthol" aftertaste. They absolutely do not tolerate technological rough processing. Only sheet Pu-erh is made from such raw materials, but not pressed.

An important feature of the creation of Pu-erh is its ability to transform its taste and qualities over many years. With proper storage, tea does not spoil at all, its taste improves markedly. It becomes fuller and softer, there is no bitterness in it, and astringency is very pleasant. The price of Puer also increases with age. At tea auctions, it can reach a couple of thousand dollars for a pancake.

"Ready" Pu-erh or "Raw"

Few have tried Chinese Pu-erh black tea. It is known that before machines were invented, this tea matured on its way to the purchaser. Today, the demand for tea has increased significantly, and the overall time to deliver the product to the customer has decreased. Therefore, Pu-erh does not have time to go through the fermentation stage (finally ripen) to the desired degree.

In the 1970s, a new rapid fermentation technique was developed in China. According to this scheme, the tea leaf is folded into small piles and sprinkled with water. Further, in the middle of this pile, the temperature rises, which accelerates the fermentation.

Thus, two basic types of Pu-erh appeared - the one that is produced using the primary technology (“Raw Puerh”), and the one that is created using the accelerated method (“Ready Puerh”).

Both types of Pu-erh have fans, but Raw Pu-erh is a bit more interesting, as with the right approach, you can control the level of fermentation yourself and, as a result, the taste of the drink.

But the control process requires some patience: after a couple of years of saving, the bitterness and roughness of the tea leaves,characteristic of young varieties begin to disappear. After that, the taste of Pu-erh becomes fuller, softer and softer.

It is Pu-erh aged for two or three years that is the most affordable and popular, and at the same time it has an amazing taste. If tea is sent to storage for 10-15 years, then you will taste a really rare product. But in this case, to understand the taste, you must already have experience in drinking the tea we are considering. You also need to remember that if stored incorrectly, the quality of Pu-erh may deteriorate.

By the way, it makes no sense to save “Ready Pu-erh”, unless you want to enjoy the variety you like longer. Indeed, in reality, Pu-erh harvests of different years can differ significantly in taste. Like wine, for example. There are no special changes in “Ready Puerh”, aging does not affect its taste, but it is much more difficult to spoil it.

Properties and benefits

What are the properties of Pu-erh black tea? Since ancient times, this food has been known for its useful and healing qualities. And recent studies by scientists have proven this:

• Pu-erh removes toxins from the body. It can be drunk both for healing and for the prevention of various ailments.
• Doctors often recommend Pu-erh for diabetics as it reduces blood sugar levels. Also, ulcers can drink it without harm.
• Tea removes excess moisture from the body, helps to lose weight. The Chinese claim that Pu-erh helps the whole body to be what it should be.
• It is a powerful tonic. The effect is similar tocoffee, but it is very useful. You can drink it while driving, during exams, before training. If you drink a thermos of brewed Pu-erh during the day, you will feel a tremendous surge of strength and you will have a desire to realize your goals.
• Alcoholism can be cured with Pu-erh. Science knows cases when tea helped to get rid of harmful addiction. Pu-erh also reduces blood pressure.

Another interpretation of tea types

There are two types of pu-erh: shu and shen. Shu is black tea. Many are afraid to drink it, as it is very strong. Cheap shu smells like earth and fish, while normal shu smells like dried fruits and nuts. This type of tea is prepared in a fast way, it does not make sense to save it for a long time.

Shen is green Pu-erh, and it doesn't look like black. Neither the taste in the brewed form, nor the smell - in the dry. They are practically two different teas. They are united only by primary raw materials and the appearance of the packaging. Shen is saved for years and only gets better with time.

There is also white Pu-erh. This variation of tea is closer to sheng, but it is distinguished as a separate type. White brewed Pu-erh smells like July herbs and honey. Its leaves are brownish on one side and whitish on the other.

Price

Black Pu-erh tea - elite Chinese tea. It is prepared in a fast way, "aged" in a controlled way. This is very good, as the tea smells like dried fruits, tree bark. Its color is intense. It is strong, it was the first to appear in Russia and that is what they mean when they talk about Pu-erh.

All thatsold in stores, usually refers to Shu Puer. It costs from 300 rubles. for 100 g and above. The best varieties of Shu Puer black tea can be purchased for 2-3 thousand rubles. That's how much a pancake costs in 357

How to brew?

Pu-erh before going to bed and on an empty stomach is forbidden to drink. You need to brew it in a small volume - tea can withstand from 5 to 15 tea leaves. Use only soft water. To brew a drink, you need to have the following tools:

• Gaiwan. Chinese cup with wide sides and lid.
• Kettle for boiling and thermos (with a glass flask) to save hot water.
• Bowls or cups with a capacity of 30-50 ml.
• Strainer.
• Chahay. If you drink tea with friends, this device is necessary. In European services, its analogue is the milk jug. It is needed in order to make the infusion the same in each cup. The tea infusion is poured into the chahai from the gaiwan using a strainer.

For a 100ml teapot (or gaiwan), use 10g of dry tea. The sequence of steps is identical for all versions of Pu-erh, but you can skip soaking for leaf. So, follow these steps:

1. Soaking. Place dry tea leaves in the gaiwan and fill with water. You can soak from 1 to 5 minutes.
2. Bring the water to a boil, but don't let it "gurgle". Pour into a warm thermos.
3. Pour the first portion of water into the tea and drain immediately. At this stage, you will remove the dust from the tea, it will begin to open. You will get a very pale infusion - wash the cups with it and drink it. Leave the steamed tea for 30 seconds under the lid in the gaiwan.
4. Pour another portion of water, leave for 5 seconds. Then pour into a cup or drink if you are drinking alone. With this first brew, the tea party begins.
5. Future infusion should be reduced to 2 seconds. The infusion will turn out even brighter, its aroma and taste will be richer.
6. Upcoming tea leaves can be made longer: 5, 7, 10, 20 and 30 seconds. Experience will tell you the required steeping time for each variety of Pu-erh.

By the way, some scientists claim that the low rate of cancer in China is due to the effect of this tea. Try different Pu-erh, choose high-quality water, drink tea in the evening and in the morning and do not eat sweets with Pu-erh.

Black Dragon Puer Tea

This is a unique premium black tea fermented in a special way. It is made only in China and has an unusual "earthy" smell and taste. Its miraculous fermentation completely transforms the qualities and biochemistry of the tea. As a result, new substances and products appear that make the infusion opaque and black, the taste is sweet and soft, and the smell is spicy-earthy.

It is recommended to drink at least 2 cups of tea per day. This loose black tea is produced in Yunnan province (China).

Production method:

1. Take 1 tsp for a glass of water. dry tea.
2. Brew 3-5 minutes. It is not recommended to insist longer.

Tea Puer "Black Dragon" receives only positive reviews. Buyersclaim that it soothes, uplifts and relieves headaches. After all, no one likes to take pills. But if your head hurts due to a change in weather or lack of sleep, then this tea is a real salvation.

Consumers say that this Pu-erh looks like ordinary black tea, without bitterness. But it has a rather tangible aftertaste of wet wood and earth. And for some, this taste seems a little strange. Of course, for many, this tea has become an indisputable favorite due to its healing qualities.