Raw Pu'er Tea is made from Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried Green Tea as the raw material, naturally aged, and not subjected to artificial “fermentation” or “piling” processes. After processing and sorting, it changes the shapes of various types of Yunnan teas (tea cakes, brick teas, tuocha, dragon pearls). Among them, Pu'er tea leaves are compressed into the shape of a Pu'er tea cake, commonly known as Pu'er tea cakes.

The technique for brewing Pu'er tea cakes is relatively more complex compared to loose leaf tea since the tea cake needs to be broken apart, unlike loose leaf tea which can be directly used. So, how do you drink raw Pu'er tea cakes?

How to Brew Raw Pu'er Tea Cake for Best Flavor?

1 Prepare 7g of raw Pu'er tea, a white porcelain Gaiwan, and a fairness cup. Use a tea needle to break apart the tea cake, taking only as much as needed.

2 Pour boiling water into the white porcelain gaiwan, tasting cups, and fairness cup to rinse them thoroughly before discarding the water.

3 Place the raw Pu'er tea in the gaiwan and use 100-degree Celsius water, pouring it in a high, circular motion.

4 The first infusion is for rinsing the tea and is not consumed; pour it out quickly. Then add boiling water to the gaiwan again.

5 Quickly strain the brewed tea into the fairness cup and then pour it into the tasting cups for drinking.

Brewing Techniques for Raw Pu'er Tea Cake

To brew Pu'er tea cakes, you need to prepare a tea knife to open the tea cake. Insert the side of the tea knife along the edge and gently apply force to push it in, avoiding breaking the tea into very small pieces. Then apply upward force to pry the tea cake apart, allowing you to remove layers of the tea cake.

Before brewing, rinse and warm the tea, as long-term storage can lead to dust accumulation. This step primarily aims to wash away impurities and achieve a warming and awakening effect on the tea. Rinse the tea quickly to avoid impacting its flavor.

The water temperature is crucial when brewing Pu'er tea, generally using boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius. If the teapot does not maintain heat well, ensure that the water is boiled before each brewing to keep it around 100 degrees Celsius, allowing the ingredients within the tea to be better extracted.

Should Raw Pu'er Tea Cake Be Drunk Before or After Meals?

Drinking raw Pu'er tea after meals: The best time to drink raw tea is one hour after a meal. It helps accelerate digestion and absorption of food, promoting the timely elimination of toxins from the body. Raw tea has a unique ability to cut through grease, effectively deep cleaning toxins and waste that have been lingering in the intestinal walls for a long time.

Drinking Tea around 3:00 PM can help regulate your body, enhance immunity, provide nourishment, and prevent colds. Drinking tea at this time is considered the most important part of the day. In the afternoon, it is suitable to drink raw Pu'er tea or green tea. Typically, the liver tends to be more active at noon, and drinking green tea or raw Pu'er tea during this period can help alleviate this condition.