Jasmine-steamed raw Pu’er tea is a unique scented tea that combines the floral aroma of jasmine with the rich taste of raw Pu’er. It is traditionally made with an intricate process, steaming jasmine flowers directly into the tea leaves to scent them with delicate floral aroma. The taste differs from jasmine green tea, as raw Pu’er’s robustness allows for a deeper interaction with the floral scent.
This tea begins with high-quality sun-dried raw Pu’er and fresh jasmine flowers. Only fully bloomed jasmine buds are chosen, picked at night when their fragrance is strongest. Unlike jasmine-blended teas, jasmine-steamed Pu’er undergoes several additional steps.
The scenting process is an intricate one: the jasmine flowers are layered with the tea leaves to allow natural absorption of the floral aroma. Alternating layers of tea leaves and jasmine flowers are spread in a clean, ventilated space, then the mixture is warmed, creating a gentle steaming effect, to help the tea absorb the scent. The flowers are replaced multiple times (3–7 scentings) for a stronger aroma. After scenting, the withered jasmine flowers are removed to prevent bitterness.
Each tea disc weighs about 5g and can easily be broken in half. Resteep to make at least 6-10 cups of tea.
While ripe Pu’er tea has higher levels of caffeine (similar to black tea), aged raw Pu’er has low levels of caffeine and higher levels of GABA, an important amino acid for relaxation and mental health. Thus, aged raw Pu’er will afford a more relaxing and grounding drinking experience than ripe Pu’er.
Although both raw and ripe Pu’er are consumed for their weight loss properties, raw Pu’er is considered the best tea for weight loss, especially when consumed immediately after meals.
Pu’er is a tea from China’s Yunnan province near the Laos and Myanmar border. High in antioxidants, 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.
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 6-10 cups of tea from each half-disc.
