Pu erh

0 thoughts on “Pu erh”

  1. Paul

    Hi Peter,

    I love to drink teas, in particular, Chinese ones. When I go to a restaurant I ordered the ones in a teapot an they give you those small cups. Though I am not Chinese. I was accustomed to drinking teas due to my mother’s influence. She loves teas and I learned to love them too. I don’t actually fancy the health part. I just like how they taste especially when I put some lemon and honey for a hot tea. It smells good too.

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    1. Peter Post author

      Hi Paul, Thanks for your comments.

      Glad to hear that you enjoy drinking tea Chinese style. It’s my favorite way to brew and enjoy tea. Like many tea drinkers in China and Taiwan, I have a big array of tea pots and tea sets to choose from according to the type of tea I’m drinking, the company I am with, how I’m feeling etc

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  2. Lee

    Hi Peter, I’ve been a coffee drinker for as long as I can remember up until around a year ago when I decided to try and swap my beloved coffee for a healthier option in the form of green tea.

    The swap was initially for health benefits and I came to the point where I started to quite enjoy the taste. One day I tried some Mao Feng Green and absolutely loved it as it was completely different to the other green teas that I’ve tried and I absolutely love the taste.

    So much so, I hardly ever drink coffee anymore.

    I now want to experiment with other types of good quality tea and Oolong has been recommended to me on more than one occasion.

    To be honest, I thought it would be as simple as walking into the supermarket and picking up a pack of Oolong until I read this great post and realized exactly how many different types there are and now I don’t have a clue where to begin!

    Have you any recommendations for an Oolong novice? I think I’d like to start off with something quite general that will give me a sense of what Oolong is all about.

    Also, are there any types that are less processed than others? If so, those are the types that I’d prefer.

    Sorry for bombarding you with questions! Thanks in advance.

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    1. Peter Post author

      Thanks Lee for your comments and questions.

      Yes, Mao Feng is a very nice tea and ranks high on the Famous Top Ten Chinese Teas list and has been one of China’s Tribute tea over the years – meaning it was selected as one of the teas to present to Chinese Emperors.

      Regarding Oolong teas, as you like Mao Feng, I would recommend starting with the lighter Oolongs such Wenshan Baozhong or a High Mountain Oolong such as Alishan or Lishan. These Oolongs are very lightly oxidized (around 10-20% only) and are sometimes referred to as Green Oolongs or Fresh Oolongs.

      Check out our Amazon Tea Store – we have the following four popular varieties available: Milk Oolong; Strawberry Oolong; Ginseng Oolong and Organic GABA Oolong

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  3. Marcus

    I never knew that black tea is oxidised but green tea is not. But what about white tea? I heard that white tea is even better than green tea. Is this true?
    I’ve never heard of these tea variations before, Da Hon Pao, Tieguanyin, and Oriental Beauty. These are interesting names. It is however, Dong Ding (Tung Ting) Oolong, that has the funniest name. If you try saying that over and over again really fast, it is like a tongue twister!
    Anyway, which of these varieties of tea do you think tastes the best?

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    1. Peter Post author

      Thanks for your comments and questions Marcus

      White tea usually gets lightly oxidized during the initial withering stage process, whereas with the green tea process, the leaves are heated as soon as they are picked to halt the oxidation process.

      White tea has many health benefits, but not unlike other teas. Silver Needle white tea, in particular which is comprised mostly of buds or leaf tips can have a slightly higher concentration of antioxidants than regular leaves.

      However, all tea tpyes (referring to teas originating from the camellia senensis plant) contains many health properties and it is very beneficial to drink regularly. I will be posting more articles on the health properties of tea shortly.

      Yes, there certainly are some unique names of some of the teas – many originating from Chinese. There are also many fascinating stories behind some of the tea names, which I would like to write more about in some upcoming articles.

      Tea tasting is very much a personal preference. I like to compare tea tasting to wine tasting – such a vast spectrum of tastes and flavor profiles. My personal favorite Oolongs are Oriental Beauty and a High Mountain Oolongs

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  4. Dmitriy

    Hi Peter,

    I always thought Oolong is just one kind of tea with milky taste 🙂 .

    I really enjoyed reading your post, but now I have a couple of questions.

    First, I’ve never really understood the whole oxidization thing. I’ve heard, of course, that green tea(s) is the most healthy kind. Does it mean, that the more oxidized a tea is, the less healthy it will be?

    Second, what’s the most “natural” kind of Oolong? I mean, the flavors that are added are artificial, right? So is there an Oolong tea that comes without any added flavors?

    Thanks!

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    1. Peter Post author

      Thanks for your comments and questions, Dmitriy.

      The oxidization process changes some of the antioxidants present in the tea leaves, primarily converting the polyphenols known as catechins into flavanoids called theaflavins and thearubigens. So all of the tea types have antioxidants present in different forms depending on the degree of oxidation.

      Most of the health properties attributed to tea are present in green, white, black, oolong and pu erh teas. Using loose leaf tea (rather than tea bags) will generally provide more health benefits.

      All of the Oolong teas mentioned in the above article (with the exception of the last one – Oolong Tea flavors) are referring to 100% naturally made teas – no additives whatsoever.

      . We now have some tea available to order from our Amazon Tea Store including the popular Milk Oolong

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  5. Stuart

    I also have heard about the health benefits of green tea especially the claims of weight and fat loss. I haven’t heard of any negative effects to drinking green tea so I don’t see any draw backs to consuming this beverage and who knows, you may experience the benefits that have yet to be substantiated.

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  7. Alexey

    Hey there it’s Alexey! What a nice article ! I enjoyed reading it. I am familiar with the term “antioxidants” from my parents, they are both doctors, and they remind me all the time about the importance of them. Green tea is a known antioxidant and after your post I only want to drink more of it 🙂
    Thanks for the share !

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  8. Matt's Mom

    I’ve heard so much hype regarding green tea and I am not much of a tea or coffee drinker, well never drink either. BUT, your post was very informative and I can see the benefits from Green Tea. It actually has a pretty good flavor. I am just supposed to stay away from caffeine. Can you tell me if the products listed have caffeine and possibly what the caffeine content is? That would be the only thing to deter me, is if the caffeine content is too high. Thanks!

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    1. Peter

      Hi Matt’s Mom. Yes, all teas (except herbal infusions) have some degree of caffeine, but not near as much as coffee. For example most black teas have around 25-70 mg per cup, green tea is about 25-45 mg per cup and Oolong tea is about 25-60 mg of caffeine per cup. Brewed coffee is approximately 95-200mg per cup

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  9. Lee Penney

    Hi Peter,
    I think your site is very informative and nicely presented. I like the post on anti-oxidants as I do believe they are extremely important to health and I do not believe you can have too much healthy stuff. You are right about the FDA not really caring about supplements as long as they are not making medical claims, because then they would become medicinal and under FDA scrutiny. That said, I know many people that swear by green tea and even though I’m primarily a coffee drinker, I enjoy a cup of tea on occasion and do think its a very healthy beverage. I did notice that the anti-oxidant chart you provided has two identical theaflavin boxes at the bottom. Is that correct? Also I love the page banner photo. Very appropriate. Good job.

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  10. Armand

    Hi Peter,

    This is an interesting read about the Chinese Tea Tray. I have never known that the tray serves a ceremony in the Chinese culture. I guess in the western world, the tea ceremony is an equivalent to having dinner where everyone gathers around the table and socializing by talking about their everyday lives. The part that I like is that one of the trays can collect the slippage of water should it ever happen.

    This post is very informative about the Chinese Tea Trays, and you have done a great job in going into detail about them. I have bookmarked your site as I didn’t know that there were different variations of tea.
    To answer your question about where I am up to in my tea journey. My answer is, “Drinking the green tea on an (almost) daily basis.” I was wondering if you can tell me if you recommend the green tea that’s from Kirkland because it’s the type of tea that I drink most often.

    Armand

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Armand. I haven’t tried Kirkland green tea, but I understand the brand is made by Ito En which is a well known Japanese tea producer. My preference is always for loose leaf teas whenever possible. If the Kirkland tea is loose leaf tea or stone ground natural (if Matcha) then you cant go far wrong with that. Even tea bagged teas and bottled tea drinks have some of the health properties of loose leaf teas – usually just not to the same degree or concentration. But, hey it still is way more healthy than drinking sodas!
      By the way we have just recently opened our Amazon Tea Store and are starting with some nice Oolong teas. We will have more teas – including green teas and Matcha available soon.

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  11. Louis

    Hi Peter,

    Personally I do think Pu Erh tea can help a bit on losing weight. I’m a Chinese who have been staying in different countries in Asian over the past years. It’s a habit of a lot of the Chinese to drink different kinds of tea in daily life. But I think it’ll not help much if it doesn’t come with other habit on diet and exercise, or even weather factors. I stayed in Thailand before. I found Thai people are even more slimmer than Chinese in general, but they don’t drink Chinese tea. But I think it’s not bad to have a habit of drinking Pu Erh tea or other kinds of Chinese tea in our daily life as it’s still good to our health in certain extent.

    Thanks for your interesting sharing

    Louis

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  12. Yaki

    I’ve been drinking green tea quite regularly and I feel great. I feel that it helps after I eat oily and greasy foods as it prevents the fat from hardening . I’ve never tried pu erh tea nor heard of it but am interested in giving it a try. Thanks for educating me on it!

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  13. Sangeeta

    Hi, good post on Oolong tea. I was not aware of tea much but after going through your article, I found it quite interesting. My husband likes to taste different form of tea leaves specially he prefers green tea and he is saying the benefits of it to me too.
    i am definitely going to forward the link of Oolong tea information and I am sure he is going to try that.

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    1. Peter Post author

      Thanks for the comments Sangeeta. Hope your husband finds it helpful and that maybe he is able to introduce you to the enjoyment of drinking nice teas as well.

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  14. cristina

    I always loved a good cup of tea:))
    But to be honest,I have never taste oolong tea. As I can see is very popular and I think I should try it . OK.I live in Greece, and I don’t know if I can find but for sure , I can buy online :))
    I think I will give it a try :)) as I can see, your post gives a lot of information.
    my favourite is the white tea but for sure I will try this one:)do you think really help in losing weight? in which way? faster metabolism? burning fat?
    thanks for information :))
    cristina

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    1. Peter

      Thank you Cristina for your comments. Yes, I’m sure you will enjoy a nice cup of Oolong tea. There must be plenty of good tea shops in Greece.

      Drinking Oolong tea regularly is no magic bullet but it does contribute to weight loss when combined with healthy living – especially good exercise and diet. I wrote an article here about tea and weight loss if you are interested. It is primarily about pu erh tea, but covers tea in general. Pu erh Tea For Weight Loss

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  15. Paul C

    I love tea! Generally I stick to unsweetened black tea, but I lvoe to mix it up from time to time. I’ve definitely never heard of Oolong tea and after reading your article, am intrigued to try it!

    You did a great job laying out what it is and why it’s rare in the westernized culture. I’d be very interested to try these and really taste the difference on my palette. Great article and I look forward to more.

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Paul. If you like black teas, the you would probably enjoy some of the more heavily oxidized Oolongs. For example Oriental Beauty Oolong is about 70-75% oxidized and can taste a little similar to a Darjeeling Black tea. If you are interested to try some Oolong teas we now have some available on our Amazon Tea Store including (Milk Oolong, Ginseng Oolong, Strawberry Oolong and Organic GABA Oolong

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  16. Chris

    My partner studied out in Japan about a decade ago ( before I met her ) and she loves this stuff. She claims that this tea has calming properties and it has been found to have numerous health benefits including lowering high blood pressure. I have not tried it yet but I must be honest it sounds interesting from a health view

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    1. Peter

      Yes, your partner is right, Chris. The Japanese are the ones who initiated the research on GABA tea and experimenting with different ways of processing it with tea makers in Taiwan. They realized the many health benefits of GABA supplements and looked for natural ways of obtaining GABA. Thus GABA Oolong tea was created. It is not only very healthy, but it is also a great tasting and enjoyable drinking tea.

      We will have Organic GABA Tea available on our Amazon Store next week if you want to give it a try.

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  17. Chris

    Ahh now this is one both me and my partner have tried out (I just read your gaba tea article!). Ginseng root has been noted for its many purported health benefits for years and years now and this kind of tea always has a unique kind of taste. At first I was not a fan but after having my arm twisted many times I finally got used to it. Great article!

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comment Chris. Yes, Ginseng root definitely has an “acquired taste” but it is amazing what your body can get used to and even get to enjoy after it “adjusts”.

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  18. Chrissie Spurgeon

    Hi Peter
    This is a really informative article.
    I have never heard of Ginseng Oolong Tea, but your description makes me really want to try it.
    I was fascinated to read how the tea is made, and your images really add to the description.
    I am a great tea drinker, and I would love to add this one to my repertoire! Do you know if it is also sold by Amazon UK?
    I really enjoyed this article, very many thanks:)

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comment Chrissie. Yes, it is a very pleasant tasting tea and gaining in popularity as people become more aware of it. Unfortunately it not being sold yet by Amazon UK as far as I know. My company is presently selling Ginseng Oolong on our Amazon Store in the US and we are planning to launch some of our teas- including Ginseng Oolong on Amazon UK shortly.

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  19. caisaki

    I like oolong tea, it makes me feel awake and energized throughout the day. I always buy it from David’s Tea House, but I also would want to have the convenience of buying it right from my own home. Thank you for providing such an excellent list of tea sources, I am sure to have a happy time picking out which I like best!

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  20. Wendy

    I am a huge tea drinker. I love trying different tea but my favorites are earl gray and oolong tea. I’ve never had milk oolong tea. What have I been missing?! I will certainly have to check it out. I never thought of oolong tea being milk flavored. You really got my curiosity going.

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    1. Peter

      Yes, Wendy, there is a world of variety out there with teas – both natural and flavored/blended teas. We’ll have some Milk Oolong available to order from our Amazon Tea Store next week.

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  21. Cathy

    Hi there Peter,

    What a great introduction to Oolong Tea. It is one of my favorite tea, but I seriously have no idea about its origin. I merely like it for its taste. Having said that, I prefer the unflavored version especially if served chilled.

    I live in the tropics and non-sweetening tea of any kind is great for quenching thirst on a hot day.

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Cathy. Glad to hear you enjoy Oolong teas. The great thing about Oolong teas and tea in general is there is so much variety – both with natural unflavored teas as well as almost endless flavors and blends available. here is a brief article I recently wrote listing a few natural Oolong tea varieties, but there are literally 100s of different teas out there!

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  22. Rafal

    Unique tea. Outstanding, funny, mysterious, appetizing, evokes various associations. I really like to give this tea guests. I tell them to close your eyes, inhale the scent and tell what they resembles the smell. Initially I thought that the job is very easy. Well, after milky smell … I forgot is that I know the name yet, and it immediately gives me the relevant association. Replies visitors fall really different: coconut, vanilla, cooked cauliflower, raspberries … No one guessed, and play nice. How many people, so many associations. Milk Oolong is among my favorites. We would recommend to anyone who likes to experiment with flavors and aromas.

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  23. Lynn Drew

    Hi Peter,
    What an extraordinary website and such great information on tea. I must admit, though I have heard about Green Tea and that it is good for you, this is the first time I have really paid attention to the benefits.

    I drink alot of coffee and now I am going to try drinking Green Tea! Thank you for giving me the incentive to do so. And I really like the idea of less caffeine. 🙂

    Blessings,
    Lynn

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  24. Sunny

    Thank you for this article, Peter! I read a few articles about teas before but this one is really quite helpful. Does it follow – — More oxidation, less antioxidants?

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    1. Peter

      Thank for your comment, Sunny. Not necessarily less antioxidants, but they do change and convert into other compounds when oxidized. Non-Oxidized tea (green tea) contains certain antioxidants including a catechin called EGCg. This is one of the key antioxidants in green tea and it has some powerful properties associated with it – for example is said to regulate gene activity in cancer cells, and may even prevent cancer growth. When tea leaves undergo the oxidation process this catechin converts to other antioxidant compounds called theaflavins and thearubigens. These are the key antioxidants present in black tea, and some of the more heavily oxidized Oolong teas, and likewise have very beneficial health properties.

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  25. Jeff

    Loved this post on GBA Tea. I heard about this product from a friend who drinks it regularly and she swears by it. Thank’s Peter, I will purchase some GBA tea today!
    Kindest regards,
    Jeff.

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    1. Peter

      Thanks Jeff. Yes GABA Oolong is an awesome tea – tastes good and has a great health story associated with it. It has become one of our top selling teas. I hope you enjoy it. You can order it from our local Australian Online tea store HERE

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  26. Jenny

    Thanks for the great read. I found it interesting and like reading about what they used to do in the olden days. interesting how kettles have changed!
    Takes me back to when my nan was alive, think she had a kettle like the 1930 style picture. Looks so familiar.
    I enjoyed reading about the temperature that some teas need to be steeped at. Especially the green tea. Never thought about the temperature it might be best at! thanks for the info

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  27. Peter

    Thanks Jenny. Yes, time certainly bring a lot of changes. Regarding tea brewing temperatures it does make a big difference in the tasting quality of the tea – especially for the more some of the delicate green tea teas.

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  28. Lesley Robertson-Laxton

    Thanks for a well written and balanced article without hype!! I am the owner of a tea company and constantly get asked what tea is “good for”. Tea is simply part of a balanced diet like fruit and vegetables. Enjoy the benefits of something that does not have sugar or chemicals!

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  29. Peter

    Thanks Jenny. Yes, time certainly bring a lot of changes. Regarding tea brewing temperatures it does make a big difference in the tasting quality of the tea – especially for the more some of the delicate green tea teas.

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  30. LindaJPederson

    Thank you so much for this valuable information. I had never heard of Matcha tea before reading your post. I’ve seen green tea at the grocery store, but never Matcha tea. Thankfully you have provided a link to order it online.

    I have never been a tea drinker, but now I am seriously considering starting to do just that. The health benefits of Matcha tea are simply amazing.

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  31. EllieCommunicates

    I am not a tea-drinker, but having a baby and loving coffee means that I still need hot water regularly.
    Having an electric kettle is very helpful as it is very easy to use and it can boil the water in no time.
    I have always wondered what could the best electric kettle be. I like most of your suggestions and I’ve used a couple. I liked to see what advantages all of them have. Thank you.
    All the best.

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  32. Susan

    Hi Peter,

    I have been looking for a variable temperature electric kettle for a while now but did not know which to get (too many models and too expensive!). Your reviews have helped me a great deal!

    I am now considering between the lower cost ones, Bonavita and Hamilton Beach, for their 60-minute temperature hold. Will let you know how it performs once I have made purchase.

    Susan

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  34. Anh Nguyen

    Aside from the fact that tea makes me loose sleep from time to time, I love it.

    Oolong tea is certainly good, I enjoy drinking some in the morning whenever I can. I’d love to hear what you think about tea and how it affects your sleep, especially how to avoid it.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers,
    Anh

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    1. Peter

      Thank you for your comments Anh. Yes, i have heard of similar situations of people who are more sensitive to certain teas and can not drink tea late in the afternoon or evening as it affects their sleep. I am thankful that I personally do not have this problem and often drink tea of an evening.

      I think everyone just needs to understand their body metabolism and what they can and cannot do. Everyone is different. One thing you could try, if you haven’t already, is to experiment with some lighter Oolongs or green teas. As a general rule the more heavily oxidized teas such a darker Oolongs and black teas do contain a little more caffeine than the lighter oxidized teas – although all teas have considerably caffeine than a cup of coffee.

      Another thing you could consider trying is to brew up a relaxing and calming herbal tea such as Chamomile to drink in the late afternoon or evening.

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  35. Alexey

    Hey there it’s Alexey. Your article was a wonderful read and a refreshing one as well. I drink a lot of tea by myself daily – and after reading this I feel proud:)

    To be honest I drink tea because my mom saidto me when I was young that tea is good for your body and since then I drink it quite often. I learned a lot about tea, the importance of it and the value of tea – really awesome.

    The oolong tea is something I haven’t tried yet, and I am going to very soon. You did a wonderul job and it was a good read. Thx 🙂

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Alexey. Your Mom sounds very wise in recommending you drink tea. You are welcome to try some of our Oolong teas that we have available on our new Amazon Tea Store

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  36. RuthM

    I was looking for a special present for my Mom, and came across this article. I have never of such a thing. Coffee maker yes, but not a tea one.

    It’s got my attention thats for sure. I love an original present idea! I may have to go for a cheaper one though. DO you think this would make a good gift for a Mom?

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Ruth. Yes, of course if your mom is a tea drinker I’m sure she will like the KRUPS FL700D51. It has similar features as the more expensive models and looks good.

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  37. cristina

    I really want one of your books and I think will take The New Tea Companion.
    I love tea and I always like to try some new taste . I would like to know more about.
    I am sure this book will satisfy my curiosity and I will learn the magic powers and the taste of a different kind of tea,
    Thanks for sharing and as soon as I buy it and read it I will tell you my opinion.
    There are some recipes in the book?

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    1. Peter

      Thank you for your comments Cristina. Yes, this book is an excellent book for learning all about tea with expert guidance on how to brew different teas and includes an extensive tea directory featuring over 130 different teas. It is full of beautiful photography of tea gardens, tea scenarios and tea ware products and much more.

      For tea recipes I would recommend Tea-Time Recipes by the same author – Jane Pettigrew. Cooking with Tea by Robert Wemischner is another good book on tea recipes.

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  38. cristina

    Do you know which one I want? Of course, I would like to have the 15000 tea brewer but for now is ok and the handy tea brewer(Smart tea maker)
    I have a question, though…
    There is a difference in the taste of tea if you make it with the stainless ball or with the 15000 tea brewer?
    Thanks for sharing 🙂
    Cristina

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    1. Peter

      That is a good question, Cristina. You know the best tea I ever tasted was made and served to me by this old Chinese man way out in the boonies in central Taiwan. He used an old, well used and tea stained little Yi Xing tea pot and brewed some Shanlinxi High Mountain Oolong tea. I don’t know how he did it and I’ve tried to get my Shanlinxi Oolong tea to taste as good – even using higher grade more expensive teas, but nothing ever measures up to that tea tasting experience. Why is that? Certainly it was not because of his expensive tea making equipment. I believe in this case it was more a matter of him being in tune with the tea leaves and understanding and respecting the experience of brewing the leaves and getting it just right. That is the true Tao (Way) of Tea.

      Of course we don’t all need to go as deep as that tea master did to enjoy a good cuppa. But all that to say I believe the biggest difference in making and enjoying good tea lies in hands of the person brewing the tea and not the equipment. Then again, if you having good tea making equipment that helps you get the brewing time, the amount of tea and the water temperature all correct, you will more likely of ending up with good tasting tea even if you are inexperienced.

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  39. Stu

    Nice! It’s interesting because I’ve started drinking a lot of tea lately, for a variety of reasons – anxiety, depression, sore throat, relaxation, to help with sleep, etc. I never used to drink tea or even coffee, but at 29 I’ve found both extremely beneficial to my overall health. Tea is also known to burn fat as well, which is pretty cool.
    Thanks for the recommendations! What are your favorite types?
    -Stu

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Stu. I have a lot of favorite teas. I would say my top 3 favorites are 1.) High mountain Oolongs, 2.) A nice aged Pu erh, 3.) Oriental Beauty Oolong. If you get a chance to pick up the book The New Tea Companion by Jane Pettigrew and Bruce Richardson, you will find it provides an excellent overview of many of the popular tea in the world.

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  40. amyagnewarbonne

    The standing joke in our house is that ‘mum is addicted to pot’ – my tea pot that is. As someone who appreciates good quality tea, your comparison between purchasing wine and tea is spot on. I noticed that Sri Lanka was not one of the countries mentioned in regards to online stores. Are their teas not available on line? We have travelled to both Sri Lanka and India and I found the Sri Lankan teas to be much nicer and of better flavour. Am curious to hear your own opinion on this.

    I look forward to exploring your site further.

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    1. Peter

      Thanks for your comments Amy. Yes, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) produces a lot of tea including some world class, premium grade teas from the main tea growing regions of Dimbula, Kandy, Nuwara Eliyah and Uva and they are available from most good tea stores. This store for example carries a range of Sri Lankan Teas. I actually added Sri Lanka to the list of tea growing regions in my above article, so thanks for bringing that out.

      As far as my opinion on Sri lankan teas, it is one region where my company does not at present supply from and I have limited experience with tasting and comparing Sri Lankan teas. One of my customers however highly recommends some premium grade Sri Lankan teas.

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  41. Simon

    Hi Peter,
    I must have been living in the dark ages as I’d never heard of Matcha tea before. It looks wonderful and the reviews from your Amazon link are excellent. It sounds like a super food with so many health benefits, looks lovely in those cookies too.
    Healthy Matcha cookies!
    I live in the UK and am a huge traditional tea drinker but I will be purchasing some Matcha tea through your link and will let you know what I think.
    Do you use Matcha in any cooking recipes?
    Thanks for your interesting article,
    Simon.

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  42. Kris

    Hi Peter, Very interesting and informative article here. I personally had no idea that there was such a thing as a matured tea! I love a nice cup of tea, but usually drink regular black tea with milk and sugar. This particular pu erh tea sounds similar to wine with importance placed on the age of the plant, also similar to coffee with regard to growth at higher altitude being beneficial.
    Thanks for sharing, Kris

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  43. Manimekalai

    I am great fan of green tea. I have tried various brands and each one tasted different. Wondered why the taste differed. Your article gave a in depth information about how the leaves are processed and why each one taste different. I just have a doubt. Hope you can clarify it. Some of the green teas give a rich green and some a pale color. Do they add any coloring agents to give a attractive color or its natural?

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    1. Peter

      The green teas that I am referring to here are 100% natural green teas, with no additives whatsoever. The color of the infused leaf will vary quite a bit. Green teas that have been shaded such as Gyokuro and Tencha will naturally be a richer more vibrant green color.

      As far as adding a coloring agent, this is usually not done unless it is a processed commercially sold packaged tea, such as some iced tea and ready to drink teas.

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  44. Derek Marshall

    Hi there Peter,

    I have actually heard of Oolong tea as it is very common and easy to find in Thailand. I have no idea that it is actually grown here in the north, I expect that it is the Jinxuan Oolong variety due to the milky taste and the altitude in a lot of areas is indeed above 1000m.

    What are the actual health benefits of oolong tea? It would be nice to know as I drink it often.

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Derek, Yes, Oolong tea grows well in Northern Thailand. Tea growers in Thailand use several tea strains from Taiwan including Jinxuan and make good quality Oolong teas there and now Thailand origin Oolong tea is exported all over the world.

      Here is a recent article I wrote that may be of interest to you on some health benefits of Oolong tea: Is Oolong Tea Good for You

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  45. Simon Watson

    This was are really interesting post on Pu erh tea. I though that your advice made complete sense and it was highly informative. I for one must admit have never even heard of Pu erh tea so it is something that you have brought to my attention and I will now look out for so I really thank you enormously!

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Yes Simon, I find many people are not aware of the many different teas available especially teas like pu erh. A big part of my job is educating people and creating a greater awareness of the wonderful variety of teas available – not only in regards to the health benefits but also the simple pleasures of drinking and enjoying good teas together. Here is another recent article I wrote on this.

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  46. Amanda

    Hey Peter, thank you so much for this article! I’ve often been very curious to try Oolong teas but never understood the difference and then become to shy to order or ask what the differences were (as I didn’t want to come across as a tea numptie!) Have put my order in and can’t wait to try some!

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Yes, there are many different varieties of Oolong tea ranging from lightly oxidized almost green tea to a heavily oxidized almost black tea – everything in between is basically a variety of Oolong. Our Milk Oolong is very popular – especially with first time Oolong tea drinkers. It is a pleasant tasting, easy drinking tea.

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  47. Gina

    I love black tea, plain, no milk no sugar, but I am an Ice Teas person. I use English Breakfast Tea, decaf, because I cannot have caffeine, so I have a hard time finding loose black tea that is decaf. What loose tea, that is a black tea and decaf, would you recommend? I like a strong tea flavor.

    Really great site. I had no idea how tea was made, very informative.

    Gina

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Gina, Glad to hear you enjoy iced black teas. Yes, you are right, there are not a lot of loose leave teas available that have been decaffeinated – most decaf teas are sold in tea bags. American tea Room is one place that you can get a good Organic English Breakfast loose leaf tea. They also have a similar quality loose leaf Organic decaf Earl Grey

      Reply ↓
  48. Neil

    Since I’m a big tea drinker and want to lose weight at the same time, this detox tea is a double bonus for me. 🙂

    I have certainly noticed many different types of tea on the market and I agree that it is difficult to locate the greatest weight loss ones.

    Thanks ever so much for the 5 programs here and by narrowing the tea options down, you have helped me in my decision making.

    Neil

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Neil. Drinking good quality teas, such as some green teas or oolong teas or pu erh teas can already have a positive effect – especially if they replace sweet sodas and other sugary drinks in one’s diet. And when accompanied with some of the herbal additives in the various detox programs above (as well as some healthy lifestyle changes) it will definitely make a difference in one’s body weight and physique. The Thin Tonic Detox above has some oloong and green and pu erh tea in it’s ingredients. Good luck with finding the most suitable program

      Reply ↓
  49. Blame

    Detox tea sounds good for the body and the mind. Not only does it help with our metabolism, it also helps relax us. I would love to recommend it to my wife.

    However, she is a few months pregnant so I am not sure if she should try anything yet. It’s because pregnant woman have to have a strictly controlled diet. What do you think?

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Yes, during pregnancy is probably not a good time to start a detox tea program. If she did feel that she wanted to try something like this I would advise consulting her doctor about it first.

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  50. Garrick Breaux

    Great article on why tea is good for you. I have been drinking green tea everyday for 5 years.

    I know without a reasonable doubt that drinking tea has increased my energy, better my cholesterol, lower my blood pressure and strengthen my system.

    Together with drinking green tea, I mix it with honey and apple cider vinegar.

    Do you have a particular tea that you drink? I would love to get the name of it.

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Garrick, good to hear you can testify of the health good results of drinking tea.

      I drink so many different teas – I love the variety. I drink GABA Oolong a lot – a good healthy, great tasting and inexpensive tea. One of my “special occasion” favorites is a wild mountain black tea from Taiwan

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  51. Albert

    I love all kinds of teas. I usually will have a pitcher of Lipton tea made from tea bags in my refrigerator. I also enjoy drinking Arizona Green tea. I think tea drinking is on the rise in the US cause more products are being made and it’s being marketed more. I do occasionally drink oolong tea as well! My mom drinks a lot of that I recently started to as well. I like it cold and hot

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Glad to hear you enjoy drinking tea, Albert. Yes, I agree that tea drinking in on the increase in the US and other Western countries as well, as people become more educated and aware of the value of it – not only health wise, but as a preferred drink of choice. I read recently that the market for higher grade specialty teas is increasing at a higher rate than regular tea which is a good indication that people are becoming more aware of what is available in the world of tea.

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  52. Loretta

    I am a major tea enthusiast and have added your website to my Must Reads. I drifted through many of your pages / posts and will return. I especially appreciate the information you provide your readers on Ginseng teas. Very helpful.

    I will be making visits to your affiliate links as I am trying to build my collection of teas, tea cookware, and reading materials.

    A big thank you for the guidance you give us on taste testing. Your website is a keeper.

    Keep up the good work.

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Thank you Loretta for your comments. Glad to hear you are finding the information helpful. Learning and discovering more about the world of tea certainly is fascinating and a great experience.

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  53. jschicanha

    personally i’m a tea lover and i use to make tea every time either home or at work but in most cases the kettle that i use to buy they are for cheap value but i recommend this kettle im seeing as the best kettle ever and will be willing to order it in some days

    thanks for the information provided

    cheers
    Jose

    Reply ↓
  55. Chris

    Hi

    Great Article

    Good to find some information on what exactly green tea is and the different kinds of green tea.

    Green tea is something I like to have after a gym session as I like the taste and it helps me relax. In saying that I really didn’t know there were so many different kinds of Green Tea available.

    Now I know and Im glad I stumbled across your very interesting website.

    Cheers

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Thanks Chris, Yes, there are plenty of green teas out there to choose from. I hope you get a chance to try a few different varieties.

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  56. Melanie

    Hi Peter,
    I enjoyed reading your Article. I drink green tea everyday, but have never really taken the time to think about what it is. I just knew it was healthier and made me feel better. I have been drinking the Twinnings green tea, probably not the best, but would you recommend high grade Japanese Gyokuro green tea as the best one?

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Melanie,

      Yes, Gyokuro is a very premium gourmet green tea and usually quite expensive. There are a lot of other very good loose leaf green teas that you could “transition” to from Twinnings before exploring Gyokuro. Some Japanese Sencha teas for example, are very good at a much lower price as are many of the Chinese green teas listed in the article. We are promoting two very nice tasting Jasmine Green teas on our Amazon Tea store you may find enjoyable. See http://amzn.to/2m2sOZt and http://amzn.to/2m2uFNG

      Reply ↓
  57. Louise

    I am looking for ways to make my lifestyle healthier and have thought about detox teas before. I drink a lot of green tea currently but I know there is still caffeine in them.

    One thing I’m not sure about though – should you drink the teas directly in place of other teas? Or are they a supplement? Or should you have them instead of any other drink?

    Thanks

    Louise

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Louise, glad to hear that you drink tea. Most natural teas are a part of a healthier lifestyle.

      And yes drinking a detox tea in place of another tea or beverage is fine. But of course we still need to drink lots of water a well. Good luck!

      Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Thank you for your comment. Good to hear Pu erh Ta was helpful for you in losing weight. By the way feel free to let us know if tealand.ae is in need of wholesale teas from China, Taiwan Japan or India. We’ll be happy to supply from our wholesale distributor – Zi Chun Tea Company

      Reply ↓
  59. Kent

    I have been drinking lots of tea lately throughout the day, mostly green tea, I have not tried the Oolong tea yet. I thought the stuff I was drinking was excellent quality, I didn’t know there are specialty tea stores that offers even higher quality. Thanks for the interesting article.

    Reply ↓
    1. Peter

      Hi Pie,
      Yes, I agree. A good aged pu erh tea is about as good as it gets for me. Generation Tea (see link in the post above ) have some good aged pu erhs

      Reply ↓
        1. Peter

          Hi Pie, my apologies for overlooking your question until now. There are some good aged pu erh teas sold on Amazon these day. For example this one is quite good. This same Amazon storefront has several other pu erh teas available.

          Reply ↓