Pu'er tea, hailing from the “Cradle of World Teas,” has a profound historical legacy that continues to evolve. From ancient times to the present, it has propelled advancements in production techniques and human civilization, fostered economic prosperity, and transformed people's lives. The mid and lower reaches of the Lancang River in Yunnan Province are now widely recognized as the birthplace of tea trees. Seeds and branches of tea trees have spread from here to distant lands, eventually becoming the miraculous “Eastern Leaves” that have captivated the world. This is also the homeland of Pu'er tea, where ancestors discovered the wonders of tea leaves thousands of years ago and learned to cultivate and domesticate tea trees scientifically and rationally.
With a wisdom that respects and preserves nature, they produced Pu'er tea that embodies the essence of nature. Although the art of making Pu'er tea has been passed down and innovated over time, the “ecological civilization” philosophy it represents has always been admired. Along the ancient Tea Horse Road, stories of Pu'er tea trade are still told, and the secret of its improving flavor with age has been uncovered by people.
Pu'er tea has made its way into modern times and has become a billion-dollar industry. The miracle of wealth creation by a single leaf has changed the lives of locals, bringing prosperity and joy to tea farmers, merchants, and enthusiasts alike.
Pu'er tea is a holistic product of nature. The term “holistic” refers to reflecting all the information about an object's existence in space. We say Pu'er tea is a holistic product of nature because at every stage of its life cycle, from cultivation and processing to storage and transformation, it maintains a close symbiotic relationship with visible animals and plants, as well as invisible microorganisms. The raw material for Pu'er tea, large-leaf Yunnan tea, grows in an excellent ecological environment, in the fringes of subtropical forests and tropical rainforests, under different geographical conditions and microclimates. Various tea species thrive together, alongside the diverse biological populations of Yunnan.
In the soil and air, diverse microorganisms leave their mark on the tea leaves, and the minimal intervention in Pu'er tea production preserves their vitality. They grow and change together with the leaves during fermentation and storage, bringing endless surprises. It is this characteristic that allows us to feel a connection between our bodies, minds, and the natural world when we drink a cup of Pu'er tea.
The natural and unadorned evolution of Pu'er tea over time also provides philosophical insights, drawing our attention back to the relationships between humans and nature, individuals and themselves, and ourselves and the world.
Pu'er tea is a superfood – the pinnacle among fermented foods.
The discovery of fermentation was initially for better food preservation. From beer and bread to various fermented foods unique to different countries, fermentation has become an integral part of daily life. The Health benefits of fermented foods like yogurt, natto, and vinegar are widely acknowledged. It is estimated that one-third of the world's food undergoes fermentation.
Pu'er tea enters a slow and long fermentation process from the moment fresh leaves are picked. Afterward, raw Pu'er follows a post-fermentation path, while ripe Pu'er undergoes artificial fermentation. We have said: Pu'er tea is the pinnacle of fermented foods. This is because Pu'er tea is virtually the only beverage that can retain a robust vitality after a century of aging, still possessing high drinking value and continuously undergoing maturation, making it a highly sought-after tea type.
Pu'er tea is the pinnacle of fermented foods. This is because Pu'er tea is virtually the only beverage that can retain a robust vitality after a century of aging, still possessing high drinking value and continuously undergoing maturation, making it a highly sought-after tea type.
During this process, not only do the appearance, color, and taste of the tea change beautifully, but the rich internal substances also produce various health-promoting factors through fermentation. This makes the fermentation of Pu'er tea not just a process of change, but also a transformation and aesthetic experience.
Pu'er tea brings dual health benefits to both the body and mind.
These benefits continue to be discovered. Drinking Tea is beneficial for health, applicable to almost all types of tea. However, Pu'er tea surpasses others. Due to its origin in deep forests with superior ecology, the inherent richness of large-leaf tea, and the high content of water-soluble substances, plus the fact that aged raw Pu'er and ripe Pu'er belong to fermented foods, the health benefits of Pu'er tea are more pronounced. Scientific research and clinical trials conducted years ago have confirmed that Pu'er tea improves digestive health, lowers “three highs” (blood pressure, blood Sugar, cholesterol), aids in weight loss, and boosts immunity.
Moreover, the benefits of Pu'er tea continue to be explored. Its role in improving high uric acid levels, assisting with metabolic disorders, and even its use in traditional Chinese medicine for health maintenance and healing, continuously adds to the “health power” of Pu'er tea. These are just the physical health benefits; Pu'er tea also has unparalleled positive effects on mental health.
Moderate Caffeine stimulates the production of dopamine, the happiness hormone, in our brains. Drinking a good cup of tea soothes and heals the soul. Experiencing the spiritual pleasure brought by tea ceremonies and Tea culture, enjoying the joy of tasting teas from different mountains and different years, all bring a refreshing breeze to our weary souls, filling us with immense joy.
Everyone has minor troubles, and human destiny experiences divergences, hardships, and pain. But with tea that can heal and inspire creativity, these rifts and hardships can be mended.
Pu'er tea has a high degree of complexity and inclusiveness, acceptable to all ages worldwide. Pu'er tea is charming on its own, and when paired with other ingredients, it complements them beautifully. Pu'er with tangerine peel, young green tangerines, rose Pu'er, and chrysanthemum Pu'er are all popular tea blends that have gained market recognition and enthusiasm. Studies have shown that certain combinations of Pu'er tea and ingredients can produce health effects greater than the sum of their parts.
Of course, being a fermented food makes Pu'er tea suitable for all ages and effective. People with different dietary habits around the world can easily accept it. In France, Xiafa Tuocha is sold as a slimming and health-improving tea. In recent years, as Pu'er tea exports and tea cultural exchanges have increased, more international friends have come to appreciate the charm of Pu'er tea, often falling in love with it upon first encounter.
Pu'er tea possesses incomparable future potential and malleability. A super beverage is meaningful not only in the present but also in the future. Due to its ability to be stored for a long time and improve with age, Pu'er tea becomes “drinkable antiques,” a “super future potential” unmatched by any other tea type. The discovery of century-old Pu'er tea from Yunnan in the Forbidden City, along with precious numbered-grade teas and seal-grade teas, and even the increasing attention given to vintage teas, have all proven that Pu'er tea can remain fresh and continuously mature over time. Pu'er tea can outlast humans. Over a hundred years, people pass away, and the world changes dramatically, yet Pu'er tea can record time and traverse into the future.
Today, we are entering a new technological era, where the emergence of AI has greatly accelerated the pace of technological innovation. In the future, technological changes will occur even faster. Pu'er tea, as the most malleable type of tea, can generate new sparks when combined with technology. Research on biological populations, extraction of rich internal substances, advances in fermentation food engineering, and development of new forms of tea can all lead to new breakthroughs. Even in the distant future, when humans migrate to far-off reaches of space, perhaps only Pu'er tea, which retains the terroir information of Earth, can accompany us, beings from Earth, on our journey to find new homes.
Excerpt from Pu'er Magazine