Pu'er Tea is known for its various benefits, such as lowering blood lipids, aiding in weight loss, inhibiting bacterial growth, facilitating digestion, warming the stomach, quenching thirst, sobering from alcohol, detoxifying, diuresis, relieving colds, soothing coughs, and reducing cholesterol. Many people are very fond of Pu'er tea, but like all teas, it has certain restrictions. What are the precautions when drinking Pu'er tea?

What to Consider When Drinking Pu'er Tea

1. It is not advisable to drink strong Pu'er tea on an empty stomach; choose the right time to drink. As the saying goes, “Drinking Tea on an empty stomach can cause palpitations, and drinking tea late at night can make sleep difficult.” Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric acid, inhibit the secretion of gastric juice, hinder digestion, and may even lead to symptoms of “tea intoxication,” such as palpitations, headaches, discomfort in the stomach, blurred vision, and irritability, as well as interfere with the absorption of proteins.

2. Drink Pu'er tea immediately after brewing and avoid drinking overnight Pu'er tea. After being steeped for a long time, Pu'er tea can release harmful substances such as heavy metals, and there is extensive oxidation of tea polyphenols, causing the tea color to become cloudy and reducing its health benefits. Additionally, Pu'er tea brewed in a thermal flask should not be consumed regularly, and overnight Pu'er tea should not be drunk.

3. Freshly made Pu'er tea should not be consumed immediately. From a nutritional standpoint, new Pu'er tea that has not been aged does not have sufficient oxidation of its nutrients. Elderly patients with a lack of stomach acid or chronic peptic ulcers may experience adverse reactions if they consume it for an extended period.

4. Keeping your teaware clean is important; don't forget to frequently wash your Teacups. Some regular drinkers of Pu'er tea like to have a thick layer of “tea scale” in their cups, believing this enhances the flavor of the tea.

However, tea scale is detrimental to health, containing multiple heavy metal substances that enter the body during tea consumption, hindering nutrient absorption and containing some carcinogens. Therefore, it is important to promptly clean the tea scale inside the teaware to avoid harming your health.

5. Drink Pu'er tea consistently rather than intermittently. To achieve health benefits, drinking Pu'er tea should be a regular habit, without interruptions. Otherwise, it's difficult to enjoy its health-preserving effects. The ancient physician Hua Tuo mentioned in his “Food Theory” that “long-term consumption of bitter tea improves mental clarity.”

6. Pu'er tea should be consumed warm, not too hot or cold. “Mild tea, warm drinking for longevity.” The ideal temperature for drinking Pu'er tea is between 25 to 50 degrees Celsius, not exceeding 60 degrees.

Regular consumption of cold Pu'er tea can have negative effects, especially on those with poor spleen and stomach health, affecting the mouth, throat, and digestive system. Therefore, warm drinking is recommended for better health preservation.

7. Drink Pu'er tea mild rather than strong. Long-term consumption of overly strong Pu'er tea can disrupt metabolic functions, weaken the stomach's ability to absorb iron from food, leading to anemia or vitamin B deficiency.

8. Avoid drinking large amounts of Pu'er tea before or after meals. Drinking large quantities of Pu'er tea before meals can dilute saliva, affecting digestion. Drinking after meals should be timed appropriately and not done blindly. For optimal health benefits, it's best to wait about one hour before or after meals.

9. Moderate consumption of Pu'er tea before bed. It is best not to drink Pu'er tea (raw tea) two hours before sleeping, as it may cause overstimulation and affect sleep, potentially leading to insomnia. However, a small amount of mild, cooked tea can be consumed.

10. Avoid drinking low-quality or spoiled Pu'er tea. Proper storage conditions are essential for Pu'er tea to prevent it from absorbing odors or becoming damp and moldy. Spoiled tea contains significant amounts of harmful substances and bacteria.

11. Avoid excessive infusions of Pu'er tea. Over-infusing Pu'er tea can extract trace substances harmful to health into the tea infusion, which is detrimental to health.

12. Use caution with boiling methods. Due to prolonged high-temperature boiling, the remaining tea polyphenols in Pu'er tea oxidize and decrease, vitamins are destroyed, and insoluble substances (such as heavy metals and pesticide residues) are released. Therefore, from a scientific perspective, boiling methods are not conducive to health.

13. Do not drink Pu'er tea during menstruation. During menstruation, a considerable amount of iron is lost through menstrual blood, so women should consume more iron-rich fruits and vegetables. However, if you drink tea after meals during this period, the tannic acid in tea, up to 50%, can hinder the intestinal mucosa's absorption of iron, significantly reducing the absorption rate. In the intestines, iron from food or iron supplements can easily form precipitates.

14. Patients with ulcers should avoid drinking strong Pu'er tea. Stronger Pu'er tea contains higher levels of caffeine, which can increase gastric acid secretion and excessively stimulate ulcers.

Pu'er tea is a popular beverage that, when consumed regularly, can enhance the body's immunity, accelerate metabolism, and benefit overall health. However, choosing the right tea for oneself is crucial. Understanding the restrictions and precautions can help ensure a healthier tea-drinking experience.