The origin of Pu`er tea

The origin of Pu`er tea dates back to the Tang and Song dynasties in China when the “Tea Horse Road” trade route was established for trade between the central Chinese dynasties and ethnic groups outside the dynasties. The central Chinese dynasties needed horses for warfare, while the ethnic groups outside the dynasties lacked vegetables in their diets, so they supplemented their diets with tea leaves for essential vitamins. The term  “Pu tea ” is recorded in the “Dianlue” book during the Ming Dynasty in China.

By the Qing Dynasty in China, Pu`er tea had become a tribute to the emperors from the Yunnan region. In the mid-17th century, Britain was importing over ten thousand pounds of tea annually from China. By the 18th century, tea had become the primary commodity in Britain`s trade with China, and much of it was Pu`er tea.

The efficacy of Pu`er tea

Pu`er tea has similar components to other types of tea, rich in beneficial substances such as tea polyphenols and theanine. Its main benefits include promoting digestion, lowering cholesterol levels, protecting the heart, aiding in weight loss, promoting sleep, and providing antioxidant effects. Research conducted by National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan has confirmed that Pu`er tea contains “Pu`er lipid-lowering factor,” which can effectively inhibit the production of “pancreatic lipase.” When the body lacks pancreatic lipase, ingested fats cannot be absorbed by the small intestine and are excreted in the feces.

The varieties of Pu`er tea primarily consist of large-leafed tea trees in tree form, characterized by distinct tree trunks. Ancient tea trees can grow up to 10 meters tall with large leaves. The main varieties include Yunnan variety, Fengqing variety, Mengku variety, and Menghai variety, known for their bold and rich flavor profiles.

Various shapes of Pu`er tea include:

Loose-leaf: Not compressed, presenting in loose form, most convenient for brewing.

Cake tea: A shape developed in China after 1949, learned from Hong Kong. The standard weight is 357g, and seven tea cakes are typically packaged in a bamboo leaf barrel, also known as “Seven-Son Cake Tea”.

Square brick: Rectangular brick shape, with certification marks pressed onto the surface, often depicting Chinese characters.

Column tea: Shaped like a cylinder, usually packaged in bamboo tubes.

Tuo tea: Shaped like a Chinese rice bowl, with a depression in the center. In modern times, smaller versions known as mini tuo tea have been developed for easier brewing.

Mushroom: Similar to tuo tea but with an added stem, resembling a mushroom. This shape facilitates storage.

Pumpkin: Shaped like a pumpkin, historically offered as tribute to emperors in ancient China, renowned as a famous tribute tea.