Pu’erh tea pros and cons Health Dictionary

Pu’erh tea is a type of post-fermented tea produced in China. Read this article to find out more about its many health benefits! About Pu’erh Tea Pu’erh tea is a post-fermented tea produced in the Chinese province Yunnan. Post-fermented teas are different from other types of tea in the sense that, after the leaves are dried and rolled, they undergo a microbial fermentation process. The pu’erh teais available as loose leaves or as tea brick (tea leaves packed in molds and pressed into block form). There are also two categories of pu’erh tea: the raw type and the ripe type. Raw pu’erh tea can count as a type of green tea. Ripened or aged pu’erh tea is often mistakenly called a type of black tea, though it isn’t. How to prepare Pu’erh Tea Pu’erh tea can be bought and prepared in loose leaf form, in tea bag form, or in compacted cake form. If you’re using leaves, add a teaspoon to a cup of freshly boiled water and let it steep for about 20 seconds before you pour off the water; this process id called rinsing, in order to prepare the leaves for the tea. Next, pour freshly boiled water again, let it steep for 30 seconds or one minute. This will give the tea a mild, but pleasant flavor. If you want a stronger flavor, you can let it steep up to 50 minutes, until it turns as dark as coffee. Pu’erh leaves can be resteeped several times (4-8 times). Just add about 20 more seconds to each steeping process. The same applies to pu’erh tea in compacted cake form. To get the leaves, either flake off pieces of the cake, or steam the entire cake until it becomes soft. Pu’erh Tea Benefits Pu’erh tea had important health benefits related to blood circulation. It can help lower blood cholesterol levels. It also boosts the flow of blood and enhances your blood circulation. Drinking pu’erh tea can help prevent cancer, as it helps prevent the formation and growth of cancer cells. It also promotes a proper, healthy digestion, and is good for your spleen. You don’t have to worry even if you’re on a diet; drinking pu’erh tea will help you lose weight, as it breaks down and reduces the fat in your body. As pu’erh tea contains caffeine, drinking it helps keep you alert and focused. It also helps with removing toxins from your body, and it can prove to be useful if you’re dealing with various aches and pains. Pu’erh tea can also help you if you’ve got a hangover, especially if you get a headache. Also, it can act as a substitute for coffee, and can have a relaxing effect on you. Pu’erh Tea Side Effects Because of its caffeine content, pu’erh tea shouldn’t be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as it can affect the baby. Also, you shouldn’t drink pu’erh tea if you’ve got anxiety, bleeding disorders, heart problems, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, glaucoma, high blood pressure or osteoporosis. It can affect your condition in all of these cases. Pu’erh tea can also interact with medications. A few examples include amphetamines, cimetidine, ephedrine, adenosine, or medications for depression, asthma and slow blood clotting. The list includes more, so if you’re under medication, make sure you check with your doctor first, to see if it’s safe to drink pu’erh tea.   Pu’erh tea has important health benefits, though the same goes for side effects, as well. Make sure it’s safe to drink pu’erh tea, and then you can enjoy a cup of tea without having to worry about its side effects.