These large tangerines stuffed with Pu’er tea are a classic and delicious traditional medicinal drink! This is a 2013 aged ripe Pu'er tea stuffed in aged tangerine peel known as chen pi, which infuses both a natural citrus zest as well as medicinal benefits. Chen pi is known for its benefits to the digestive system as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-phlegm properties, and by ounce, aged chen pi is worth more than gold.
These tea tangerines are a delicious and delightful way to drink pu’er tea throughout the day—each tea tangerine is much larger than our tea oranges (approximately 25-28g) and is good for many servings of tea, and tea leaves can be rebrewed repeatedly throughout the course of one day. Note that the chen pi skins may be discolored from the cooking, drying, and aging process, and have a citrus aroma.
Pu’er is an aged fermented tea from China’s Yunnan province. Not only does the fermentation process lend pu’er its distinct flavor, it also boosts its medicinal properties—pu’er tea is high in antioxidants, and studies show it can fight oxidative stress, promote weight loss, and regulate blood sugar. Pu’er tea also possesses anti-cancer properties. It has a lower caffeine level, less than coffee and green tea, which make it a great choice for drinking late into the day.
It’s also a highly-coveted tea with an obsessed fanbase. As one writer said, “Pu-erh, which is processed in a special way to encourage microbial fermentation after the leaves are dried, ages more dynamically than any tea out there. It does not have fans. It has junkies who buy kilos of the stuff at a time to bliss out on days-long brewing sessions, only dropping out of their highs long enough to argue over the best pu-erh blends, growing regions, and storage methods. There are grasping amateurs who buy, gift, and drink the tea to gain social status among Chinese elite.”
Pu’er has been called China’s best-kept secret for weight loss. Animal and test-tube studies show that it can help synthesize fewer new fats while burning more stored body fat. In one animal study, pu’er was also the only variety of tea capable of raising the level of good cholesterol and lowering the level of bad cholesterol.
Instructions:
Note: You can repeat the above steps and brew the tea leaves throughout the day until the steeps have lost their taste. As you use more of the tea, you can break off pieces of the tangerine peel to steep along with the tea leaves and infuse the tea with citrus zest flavor.
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