There's been a lot of buzz about this tea on the Internet and also in the general media. I've just bought some (the loose leaves, rather than teabags) and started drinking it today. So today is Day One.
Does anyone have any experience of it - either personal experience or from prescribing it to their clients?
RE: pu-erh tea
Hi, I don't know what you are taking pu-erh tea for, but I have read good things about it for weight loss. I also read that Victoria Beckham apparently drinks lots of it? I also read that some other green teas are just as beneficial healthwise. Whatever you are starting on the tea for I hope it works for you.
RE: pu-erh tea
Thanks mrsbeansprout - that's the sort of stuff that I have been reading too. It's hard to tell though whether it is hype (or that the reviews are written by folk selling it!) - hence asking if anyone here has used it themselves (or has prescribed it to their clients).
Thanks for the comment re green tea - but I can't drink tea it - it gives me violent stomach cramps (as does black tea). The bizarre thing is that [link= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh ]pu-erh[/link] is also [link= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis ]Camellia sinensis[/link] but perhaps it's the way it is processed/aged or the variety - but it doesn't have that negative effect on my stomach.
As an aside - I quite like the taste. It has a medicinal flavour about it (some folk say it's like pond water - and that is sort of true!). It's very high in caffeine, which I don't like the idea of. But I'll try it for a couple of months and see how I go. I might post back here and let people know how I go.
RE: pu-erh tea
Hi neukolnn, sorry you cannot drink green tea, I think pu-erh is double fermented so that's probably why it is gentler on your stomach. I know you said you like the taste of pu-erh, (can't say some people comparing it to pond water made me fancy any!), but you are concerned about the amount of caffeine in it. I know it is less than a cup of coffee, and I think 3 cups daily with meals are recommended, so I don't think that would be too much caffeine.
If you decide pu-erh is not for you, have you tried Rooibos tea? It is naturally caffeine free, very gentle on the stomach, and apparently the health benefits of drinking it are far greater than with green tea, white tea, pu-erh etc. You can find out lots of info about it online easily, it's sometimes called Red Bush Tea. I've drank lots of it in the past during my travels and it tastes really good, very refreshing and fruity. Obviously as you say with many of these things the claims may or may not be true. It could be worth a try, and it should be much more reasonably priced than pu-erh, which is no doubt overpriced because of its present popularity and 'celebrity' endorsement.
All this tea talk is making me thristy, time to put the kettle on I think! Anyway, good luck with your pu-erh drinking, I'd be interested to know what you think of it.
RE: pu-erh tea
Hi mrsbeansprout. I'll keep red bush tea at the back of my mind. I'm in a Chinese teas headspace at the moment! I've been looking at this site () and thinking about buying some of the medicinal teas. But I think it is sensible to treat one condition at a time.... when you are self-prescribing and know very little about the ingredients. I'm also interested in Oolong tea - it is also Camillia sinensis, but is low in caffeine. I might try that one next.
I got my tea online (from here: ) and it was quite reasonable (£15 for 200g) - but you are right some websites are selling it at very high prices (£23 for a box of 20 tea bags).
As an aside - I suffer from depression (which, I am sure you know leaves one feeling lethargic and unmotivated). I've found that my energy levels have improved since starting the pu-erh tea. Perhaps this is because of the medicinal qualities of the tea, but it might equally be the caffeine - because I don't have any caffeine beverages in my diet, normally. Just thought I 'd share that. Perhaps when someone comes along who is a Chinese Medicine practitioner they could comment on that observation?
RE: pu-erh tea
Hi neukolnn. Chinese teas for you at the moment, fair enough.
But if you do ever wander from the chinese, you could try Karkade tea (made from hibiscus flowers), Karkade is the arabic word for the roselle plant ~ Hibiscus Sabdariffa. I first tasted it in Egypt, and the beautiful bright red colour and fresh tangy sweet taste were wonderful. I'm not sure of any reported health claims though, just love the flavour.
That's it now, I promise not to mention any other teas to you. I am glad you are enjoying your choice of pu-reh tea, and that you are experiencing more energy.
Hopefully as you say, someone who knows about Chinese Medicine may be able to tell you more.
I love puerh tea, and the very best I can find where I come from I come from is . They stock some very well-aged puerh teas, as well as a wide variety of other high quality teas. I recommend them to all tea lovers out there!
Pu Erh is actually buried with a bit of water to ferment. It's this unique process that gives it its taste and health benefits! In terms of Chinese Medicine it aids the digestion (Spleen) and clears Damp - this explains its use as an aid to weight loss.
Puerh is great! Its actually fantastic.
I have been told by chinese practitioners before that I have a "damp spleen" I am partial to thrush etc and I find it really helps with that and is fantastic for digestion and in turn I suppose it helps with weightloss. I have to say that if you drink it with something high fat you will be on the loo a little while later and its very clearing but not in a purging way. You will know what i mean when you start drinking it.
Weight wise I think there is no quick fix but it definitely creates a good arena for weight loss as it makes you more regular etc and I do believe it works well when you eat it with or after unhealthy food. The Chinese drink it with fattening or deep fried food.
Don't spend a lot of money on it, the robt roberts one is just as good as any and the blackcurrant flavour is really nice.
other than that you can get it quite cheaply in chinese emporiums
this stuff works!! xx
Rose scented Pu-erh Tea
Original Puerh tea could taste quite strong. But there are a lot of puerh with different flavous available now, such as Rose scented Puerh, Chrysanthemum scented Puerh.
The name Pu-erh recounts to this teas place of origin – Pu-erh village, Yun Nan province of south-west China. Traditional Pu-erh teas were pressed into cakes, bricks or balls. This compression facilitates the post-fermenting process – which is as noted the distinguishing feature of this tea. Fermentation in tea production is comparable to the process that happens naturally when fruits discolor. This process is identified as enzymatic oxidation. In tea production the process is controlled via suitable application of temperature and light at the correct processing stage.
There are numerous health [url]Pu-erh tea benefits[/url] can give you. According to studies, Puerh Tea’s health benefits include the lowering of blood lipids that assist with the prevention of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and slimming.