If you haven’t tried this delicious Chinese tea, what are you waiting for?

After water, tea is our most popular beverage.

You’ll get all kinds of health perks, like reduced inflammation and a stronger immune system.

What Is Pu-erh Tea?

Pu-erh comes from Yunnan, a Chinese province nestled against the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

Raw pu-erh has a lot in common with green tea.

There are tea drinkers who approach aged pu-erh the way wine collectors approach vintages of Bordeaux.

Aged pu-erh comes pressed into dense cakes, squares, and other shapes.

you’re able to cut into them with a knife and flake off the leaves.

Taste

Aged, raw, and cooked pu-erh flavors range widely.

Those darker-aged teas often carry a mellow, nicely rounded, earthy quality with low campfire notes.

“Ill typically drink it straight up later in the day.”

Cost

While aged pu-erh can be expensive, it can also be affordable.

Raw and cooked pu-erh tend to be cheaper.

Pu-erh tea is no exception, and it has beneficial aspects not common in other tea types.

“Think of pu-erh more of a gut/digestion/heart-healthy tea,” suggests Borowsky.

“We also blend pu-erh in with other teas so you’re able to get multiple benefits.”

Here’s what else this tea offers.

Plus, pu-erh tea may help increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

That’s because it improves the balance between the two.

These bacteria help break down complex carbohydrates and fibers, producing short-chain fatty acids that nourish the gut lining.

They also play a key role in maintaining a balanced microbiome.

Enhances Brain Health

Research also finds that pu-erh tea significantlyboosts brain health.

That’s thanks to the high level of polyphenols and rich antioxidant content, which can reduce oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is linked to diabetes complications.

Pu-erh tea has also been shown to inhibit the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which slows carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption.

This leads to more stable blood sugar levels.

This is ideal for preventing fatty liver disease.

Enhances Skin

Pu-erh tea’s rich polyphenols content contains specific catechins, which have many skin benefits.

These protect the skin’s elastin, which is a key protein that prevents skin aging.

Tea extracts in pill form are potentially toxic if misused."

If you are worried about caffeine, Borowsky says don’t.

But also don’t expect a calming effect, either.

The traditional brewing method is very meticulous but you’re able to simplify it at home.

And you don’t need to add milk, sugar, honey, lemon, or anything.

The best part may be that already-brewed pu-erh can be re-steeped and reused several times.

Sometimes, that can be a good thing.

Fan, T. et al.

“Pu-erh tea: A review of a healthful brew.

“Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences.

“Puerh tea extraction alleviates intestinal inflammation in mice with flora disorder by regulating gut microbiota.

“Food Science & Nutrition.

Hou, et al.

“Pu-erh Tea Protects the Nervous System by Inhibiting the Expression of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5.“Springer.

Ding, S. et al.

“Pu-erh Tea Extract Ameliorates Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats and Suppresses Osteoclastogenesis In Vitro.

“Frontiers in Pharmacology.

Deng, Z. et al.

“Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds from Pu-erh Tea.“Molecules.

Deng, Y. et al.

“Pu-erh tea polysaccharides decrease blood sugar by inhibition of -glucosidase activity in vitro and in mice.

Bonte, F. et al.

“Skin Antiaging and Detoxifying Properties of Ancient Tea Forest Puer Tea.

“Free Radical Biology and Medicine.