Pu Erh or Pu'Er 'Red' Teas

This unusual tea takes its name, Pu Erh from the town in Yunnan near which most of it is grown. It is also known as "Red" tea in China. If one were to follow the Chinese example, Pu Erh tea is the most famous of all for its health giving properties and as a slimming tea. It is believed to speed up metabolism without raising the heart rate. Pu Erh teas grow in one of the most ancient tea growing areas and in the primeval forest of Mt. Dahei there is a 1700 year old tea tree. Pu Erh is very highly regarded in China for its reputed health benefits such as lowering triglycerides and cholesterol and has also been linked in many western articles as an aid to weight loss. We have chosen a cross section from amongst the 200 or so varieties on offer. At one time the bricks of Pu Erh were used as currency. It is fair to say that the stranger varieties have an acquired taste! The black tea varieties can take milk; they have a mellow character and leave a sweet taste in the mouth, whilst green Pu Erh should be drunk without. Pu Erh leaves produce many infusions. The wonderful appearance of Pu Erh teas makes them a unique gift to give to health conscious friends. An interesting characteristic of all Pu Erh teas is that the longer you keep them the better they become. Some 30 year old varieties of Pu Erh are sold for tens of thousands of pounds a kilo in Hong Kong.