For centuries, tea has been regarded as a cultural gem of the East, and a medium to carry the spirit of the people over time. Like many traditional art forms, tea is believed to have been a gift from the heavens.
According to a Chinese legend, the first discoverer of tea was Sheng Nong in 2737 BC. Having composed the first book of Chinese medicine, Shennong’s Root and Herbal Classic, he is widely worshipped as the Emperor of the Five Grains and venerated as the King of Medicine.
Legend has it that Shen Nong possessed a transparent stomach, so he could clearly see the reactions of everything he ate inside his body. In order to teach human beings how to use plants and natural herbs, Shen Nong roamed all over the land, tasting hundreds of herbs and observing their effects in his body.
One day, he wanted to test an herb by brewing it in hot water. He foraged some twigs from a nearby tea tree, and lighted it up with fire. But the tea twigs rose up on a column of hot air and landed right inside his cauldron of boiling water. After trying the brew, he accidentally discovered tea. Later on, he would use his prized discovery as the antidote against some seventy poisonous herbs.
Given the divine origins of tea, many people believe that tea allows a person to reconnect with his spiritual self. Among the first tea drinkers were spiritual practitioners – Daoists in search of an elixir for eternal life and Buddhists who needed to keep themselves awake during long hours of meditation.
Due to the calming nature of tea, one has to melt into a realm of peace in order to savor its mild flavor. This is in keeping with the Chinese philosophy of oneness between heaven and humanity. As such, the art of tea allows one to enter a state of reflection, reaching a higher spiritual level.
Puzhen’s Pu-er teas capture that essence perfectly. Pu-er is the crown jewel of all teas, and throughout history is usually only served to royalty. Pu-er is known as a dark tea in Chinese teas, as it is not truly a black or green tea . It is unique because it comes from a large-leaf variety harvested from wild tea trees rather than cultivated ones. Its origin is ancestor of all teas – the Camellia Sinensis – deep in the tropical mountains of Yunnan, China.
There are two kinds of Pu-er teas: cooked and raw. Cooked refers to those that have undergone an accelerated post-fermentation process, while raw types are those produced through natural fermentation. Moreover, Pu-er is the only “living” tea that continually ferments and smoothens over the years. Like good wine, the older it is, the more refined the taste.
Tea connoisseurs value Pu-er teas for its delicate yet exquisite flavor. But perhaps most importantly, it is the culture behind Pu-er tea that makes it so memorable. Every cup is steeped in culture, cultivated through time. That is why when you enjoy your cup of Puzhen’s Pu-er tea, you can stop time for a moment to savor its refined taste of history.
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