The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| Faster Aging Shou Pu-erh Answering the Cry For More Pu-erh Tea |
| For centuries traditional pu-erh teas were exclusive to China, where the tea gets its name from Puerh County, located in Yunnan Province. This area in southwest China is the original birthplace of this variety of large-leafed teas. Along with the right soil and climate, this particular tea bush produces teas with a rich, earthy character. |
| And when the leaf is aged using a specific process unique only to pu-erh tea and left to mature under special conditions, it produces a complex tea with the taste of earth and slight hint of mold, along with a complicated complex of flavors, including fruits and spice that unfold with each steeping. It's a tea that you must experience in person to understand why millions of people worldwide swear by it. While sheng pu-erhs (raw or green pu-erh) are left to age for up to 50 years or more, and can sell for thousands of dollars, shou pu-erh (cooked or black pu-erh) is designed to age much faster. Developed in the 1970's, shou pu-erh, also known |
| as black or cooked pu-erh, was developed to replicate the mature, earthy flavor of raw pu-erh, using a faster method of aging. The beginning steps are basically the same as for sheng pu-erh, the leaf is picked, withered, and then mixed with a precise measure of water and a bacterial culture taken from ancient pu-erh. The next step in the process of shou pu-erh is to pile and cover the tea for up to 40 days in a hot and very humid room. The water in the tea and the oxygen in the air begins the fermentation process. (This is true fermentation, and isn't the same as the oxidation pro- cess used when manufacturing black and oolong teas). In order to regulate the amount of heat and moisture that builds up in the piles of tea, the cover is periodically removed, and the piles of tea and mixture are turned. This step distributes the heat, moisture, and bacteria evenly through the leaf piles. The leaf will eventually change from a yellow-green color, to a reddish brown. After the process of piling and fermentation are done, the leaf is left to mature a bit, allowing the sharp flavor of fermentation to even out and dissipate. When finished the leaf is formed into disks or cakes of pu-erh and wrapped individually in tissue paper, then placed singly into presentation boxes, or stacked in sevens (known as a tong, which translates to "seven sons") and wrapped in bamboo leaves or grasses to protect quality and flavor. Each stack of disks or tong weigh about five pounds or 2.5 kilometers. Shou pu-erh may not have all of the more refined, complex flavors of sheng pu-erh, but it still offers a good cup of tea reminiscent of the strong earth flavors pu-erhs are known for. Enjoy. For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: How is sheng pu-erh made? Learn how sheng puerh is manufactured, and the difference between the two styles of puerh tea; one the traditional long aging sheng puerh, and the other, shou puerh the quick aging version. Organic teas aren't just good for you, but Mother Earth, too. Learn more about how organic teas are grown and how to ensure the tea you're buying is certified organic by the country it was grown in. The many health benefits of drinking tea. If after drinking a cup of tea you seem to feel better, it's not your imagination. Tea contains a long list of beneficial ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help fight everything from colds and flu, to cancer and heart disease. Can tea help me lose weight? Learn how drinking just three cups of tea a day can help you shed those unwanted pounds as well as provide a powerhouse of other health benefits, too. |
| Specialty and gourmet teas - a treat for the taste buds. If you want to give your taste buds a unique treat, try one of the many specialty or gourmet teas available. With a range of flavors, from smoky to sweet, and everything in between, you'll never be bored with your beverage. (Try Decaffeinated Earl Grey Fancy OP Tea from Silver Leaf Tea - A classic Earl Grey, flavored w/bergamot, w/no caffeine. From the Burnside Estate in India's Nilgiri hills-light and aromatic, it goes wonderfully w/strong cheeses, meat and fish). Producing Lapsang Souchong tea - a closely guarded secret for centuries. For over 300 years the Chinese government kept the production method and location in China's north- ern Fujian Province, deep in the Wuyi Shan Mountain forests, a closely guarded secret. How is black tea made? Many people enjoy the full, robust flavor of black tea. We'll walk you through the manufacturing process step-by-step to show you what it takes to bring this quality tea to your table. (Try Darjeeling First Flush Tea-Castleton Estate from Silver Leaf Tea Co., - Teas from the Castleton Estate in Darjeeling, India, are known to be consistently top quality. This nice first flush Darjeeling whole leaf tea has a muscatel bouquet w/a wonderful light, sweet, flowery aroma and a bold, rich flavor. Good as an afternoon tea-or anytime). Learn the story behind this smoke-infused black tea. Learn how a frightened village under siege, deep in the Wuyi Shan Mountains of China, accidentally created a new tea that's now enjoyed by millions worldwide. A cup of hot tea - just what you needed! Nothing is more soothing, relaxing, or revitalizing than a cup of hot tea. If you've had one of "those" days and need to wind down, or just need a quick energy boost, check out these great recipes for hot tea. (Try Organic Idulagashinna Estate Green OP1 Ceylon Tea from Silver Leaf Tea Co., - A wonderfully long stylish leaf w/a classic light green tea taste. A great tasting tea w/a nice aroma that goes well with light meals, spicy foods, fish, and strong cheeses, as well as after a meal). Blooming Teas - A Delightful Feast for the Senses. Watch as these special hand-wrapped teas transform into beautiful shapes right before your eyes, and then enjoy drinking the freshly brewed tea. (They make a charming after-dinner treat for your guests). (Try Evening Comfort Tea from Silver Leaf Tea Co., a great tea to aid digestion and ease stomachaches, nausea, and motion sickness. A soothing blend of peppermint, ginger root, and lemon peel). |
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