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Fitness & Health

01st Jul 2010

The health-giving benefits of Pu-erh Tea

JOE.ie brings news of a product, foodstuff, exercise technique or pill with potentially magical health-giving properties. This week it's Pu-erh Tea.

JOE

Who doesn’t want to be that little bit healthier? Especially if improving your health involves minimal effort. With this in mind we’ve made it our mission to bring you news each week of a product, a foodstuff, an exercise technique or a pill that promises potentially magical health-giving properties.

This week’s magic ingredient: Pu-erh Tea.

Not to be confused with: Poo, Puer natus, Peru tea, Pu-nani.

Whoa horsey. What’s wrong with my box of Barry’s tea? Get with the times man. Pu-erh tea is special. So much so, that it’s grown at an elevation of around 2,000 metres in Yunan.

Sorry, but where the heck is Yunan? The tea is named after, and originates from, Pu-erh County near Simeo, Tunan Province, China. This area is in turn named for the ethnic ‘Pu’ people. Yunan produces the vast majority of Pu-erh tea.

I’ve seen my bird drink all those herbal teas. What good is it to me? Well that’s a very good question. Pu-erh tea has very low caffeine levels and is high in antioxidants. Western medical studies have found the following benefit; powerful cholesterol lowering effects, blood and liver cleansing properties, aids fat metabolism and helps to prevent intestinal infection, digestive problems and constipation. Oh, it is also claimed that it helps weight loss.

Oh nice one. I’ll remember that the next time I need to drop a log. Yeah you should. Chinese traditional medicine recognizes Pu-erh for clearing stomach heat, invigorating the spleen and counteracts alcohol.

Counteracts alcohol? Do you mean it helps you not to get pissed? No you loon. It means it will help you to nurse a hangover.

Does it taste nice? Pu-erh tea can generally improve in taste over time due to natural secondary oxidation and fermentation.

Right, so this stuff will help my hangover, get my bowels moving and help me to lose a few pounds. I’ll try it. Where can I get it? Robert Roberts have original and blackcurrant flavour. You can buy it online, in well-stocked health food stores and most leadin supermarket chains.

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Food