Puer is a Chinese tea that is made using a unique technology and has properties incomparable with a traditional drink. Pu-erh is part of many weight loss diets and wellness programs. What should be guided by when choosing pu-erh and what are its varieties?
All about pu-erh
There are two types of pu-erh - sheng and shu. Cheap black shu smells like earth and fish, while quality shu smells like dried fruits and nuts. Green sheng, smelling of smoked leaf, does not resemble shu either in aroma or taste - only in the appearance of the package and the raw materials. In addition, there is also white pu-erh, which smells of July herbs and honey. The stores most often sell such types of pu-erh as mini-tocha, tocha, pressed briquettes, flat cakes, palace pu-erh and Dragon lumps.
A good pu-erh cannot be cheap - for example, a 15-year old sheng will cost from two to fifteen thousand rubles.
Black Puerh Mini Tocha is sold in a 7-8g small cap, which is enough for several brews. The point resembles a nest in appearance and is made of better quality raw materials, in which twigs with leaves and even whole leaves come across. Pressed briquettes are practically similar to dots, only they have a different look. Flattened tortillas are made from the finest raw materials. Palace pu-erh is prized for its convenience as it is sold loose and does not need to be soaked. Lumps of "Dragon" are the best type of lumpy pu-erh, which has a rich and varied aroma.
Choosing Puerh
To choose a quality pu-erh, you need to pay attention to its characteristics. So, first of all, it should look good, include whole leaves of different shades - brown in shu pu-erh and green / light brown in chahen. White pu-erh should consist of whitish leaves interspersed with darker leaves. Shu pu-erhs may smell like earth and tree bark, but their predominant aroma is tobacco and nutty. Sheng pu-erhs may well smell like smoke.
Good pu-erh should never smell like mold - its smell appears as a result of improper storage of tea.
Experts recommend purchasing the amount of pu-erh tea per brew - this will help to form an impression of a particular type of tea. You can buy the variety you like in reserve and not worry about its shelf life, because the pu-erh is well stored. Another feature of pu-erh is its uniqueness - having bought one taste, it is unlikely that you will be able to acquire the same again. When buying, it is advisable to ask the seller about the factory at which the pu-erh you liked was made, in what year it was harvested and how best to brew it.
