Pu-erh Tea has long been valued in Chinese herbalism for its vast benefits. Pu-erh tea (pronounced ‘poo-air’) contains high levels of polyphenols (flavonoids, catechins and theaflavin), which are known for their antioxidant activity. These powerful chemicals speed up fat burning as well as reduce stress and heavy metal consumption due to the cell repair compounds found within. The theanine and flavoids found within pu-erh just so happen to aid in digestion after meals by acting as a sponge and accelerator for fat burning.



However, of the five main types of tea (white, green, oolong and black being the others), pu-erh stands apart from every other one as its tea leaves go through a natural fermentation process before the tea is gently dried. This not only creates a cup with zero astringency and deep, rich body, but this fermentation process also helps produce micro-organisms which are being shown to be particularly beneficial to the human body.



Health benefits of China Pu Erh Tea



- Studies have shown that long term use of appropriate amounts of pu-erh teas have the potential to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and increase HDL levels (the good cholesterol).



- In traditional Chinese herbalism, pu-erh tea is considered to open the meridians, ‘warm the middle burner’ (the spleen and stomach) and be beneficial to ‘blood cleansing’ and digestion.



- The micro-organisms that are present in pu-erh tea have shown to increase the healthy bacterial flora in the stomach and intestines, which may aid in proper digestion of foods.



- Studies have shown that pu-erh tea significantly suppresses fatty acid synthesis (FAS). This means that it can literally block your body from producing more fat and helps loss weight of your body.



- While it is not going to be a replacement for brushing and flossing, consumption of Pu-Erh is actually shown to help fight bad breath.



- Like most teas, Pu-Erh has been shown to contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are natural phyto-chemicals that help the body fight off free radical molecules and prevent diseases.



- While Pu-Erh Tea is black, and therefore has caffeine, it seems odd that this tea would assist with sleeping. Despite the caffeine, the micro-organisms and phyto-chemicals (GABA and theanine) have been shown to reduce stress levels and increase the production of natural melatonin in the brain, resulting in improved sleep patterns.



- Pu-Erh Tea has been shown to provide a number of anti-inflammatory properties. These can reduce the pain associated with arthritis, and these properties have also been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing arteriosclerosis.



- This tea has also been proven to contain theophylline, which is an active ingredient in most asthma medication and inhalers, demonstrating that Pu-Erh tea may also be beneficial to prevent and control asthma.



- A study conducted at UCLA indicated that consuming three cups of Pu-Erh tea daily resulted in a 21% drop in risk for stroke by clearing out plaque buildup in the arteries.