Pu Erh Tea 1 lb: V

This is loose tea, not bagged. One pound is the equivalent of approximately 200 tea bags. Pu-erh or Puer tea is a fermented tea, named after Pu'er county in Yunnan, China. It is an unusual tea, because unlike other teas which are consumed shortly after production, it can be over 50 years old and is usually aged at least 1-4 years. Over this time it acquires an earthy flavour due to fermentation (not the oxidation used for oolong or black teas). This leads to Pu-erh having the unique trait among tea varieties of not losing its qualities after a year or two and of being classified by connoisseurs by year of production. In Cantonese culture, pu-erh is known as po-lay, bo-lay tea, or bo-nay tea and is often drunk during dim sum meals with family and friends, as it is believed to help with digestion. Pu-erh is considered a medicinal tea in China. The Pu-erh tea has been subject to a number of health studies. A number of medical studies have substantiated claims that the tea helps reduce cholesterol levels and saturated fats in humans, and that it might also assist in weight loss. As with many varities of teas and coffees, Pu-erh is named after the region where it was first harvested. There is a small town in the Yunnan province called Pu-erh, and trade in this type of tea was very heavy there. They harvest the tea from a broad-leaved variety of tea, that is supposedly a very ancient strain of tea. All teas have a wide spectrum of health benefits, but Pu-erh has an extra one. Drinking Pu-erh tea can help reduce cholesterol, according to scientific studies. By helping digestion (particularly of fatty foods), Pu-erh is the perfect tea after a heavy meal. The brewed tea is darkly red, and has a bold, earthy taste. For optimum brewing, use boiling water. Unlike most other teas, Pu-erh is usually purchased in a compressed state rather than loose leaves. The leaves are pressed together during processing into a variety of shapes. The 'tea bricks' once used as currency were typically made with Pu-erh tea. You just shave off some tea from the brick or ball, into your teapot. The flavour of Pu-erh is often under-appreciated, because it actually gets better with age. Letting it dry age in a cool closet will improve your cup of tea when the dry aged leaves are finally brewed. The phrase 'Black Tea' is used as a generic name for all Camelia sinensis teas. The major Black Tea types, from the traditional black tea evergeen (Camellia sinensis), classified according to processing method, include: fermented, or black, tea, producing an amber-coloured, full-flavoured beverage without bitterness; semi-fermented, or oolong, producing a slightly bitter, light brownish-green liquid; and unfermented, or green, tea, resulting in a mild, slightly bitter, pale greenish-yellow beverage.