There are actually many taboos to be aware of when drinking Pu'er Tea, and this article only highlights some key points. Hopefully, you can avoid the disadvantages of drinking Pu'er tea and prevent any unnecessary troubles. Drinking Pu'er tea has both benefits and drawbacks for your health, but you can avoid the drawbacks by being mindful of the following taboos. So, what are the taboos to drinking Pu'er tea?

Six Taboos to Drinking Pu'er Tea

1. Avoid drinking strong Pu'er tea on an empty stomach; choose the right time to drink it based on your individual needs.

“Drinking Tea on an empty stomach causes anxiety, and drinking tea late at night makes it hard to sleep.” Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric acid, inhibit gastric juice secretion, hinder digestion, and may even cause symptoms such as palpitations, headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort, blurred vision, and irritability, known as “tea intoxication.” It can also interfere with the absorption of proteins.

2. Pu'er tea should be drunk immediately after brewing; do not let it steep for too long or drink old tea.

After prolonged Steeping, harmful substances like heavy metals may leach out from the Pu'er tea, and a large amount of tea polyphenols will oxidize, causing the tea color to turn murky and reducing its Health benefits. Additionally, Pu'er tea brewed in a thermos flask should not be consumed regularly, and overnight Pu'er tea should never be drunk.

3. Avoid drinking too much freshly made Pu'er tea.

From a nutritional standpoint, newly made Pu'er tea that hasn't been aged for a period of time has not undergone oxidation of its nutrients. Elderly patients who suffer from a lack of gastric acid or chronic gastric ulcers may experience adverse reactions if they consume it for extended periods.

4. Keeping your tea utensils clean is important; don't forget to frequently wash your tea cups when drinking Pu'er tea.

Some regular drinkers of Pu'er tea like to have a thick layer of “tea residue” build up in their cups, believing that this enhances the flavor when brewing Pu'er tea. In fact, tea residue is extremely detrimental to human health. It contains various heavy metals that enter the body during tea consumption, hindering nutrient absorption. It also contains certain carcinogens, so it's essential to clean the tea residue off the inner walls of Pu'er tea utensils promptly to avoid harm to your health.

5. Pu'er tea should be consumed in moderation, not excessively.

When drinking Pu'er tea, you can alternate between raw and ripe teas, but it's not advisable to consistently favor one type over the other.

6. Pu'er tea should be consumed regularly, without interruption.

Drinking Pu'er tea should be a consistent practice, without breaks, as intermittent consumption may not yield the desired health benefits. The ancient physician Hua Tuo mentioned in his work “Food Discourse” that “long-term consumption of bitter tea enhances mental acuity.”