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 WU News
| June 2012
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Dr. Ming Wu
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The greatest Virtue
is to follow Dao and Dao alone.
--Dao De Jing Chapter 21
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Dr. Ming Wu talks about Pu Er Tea
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Origin of Pu Er Tea
Pu Er tea comes from the southwestern corner of China, in the Yunnan province. Its name is derived from the ancient market town where all the tea in the region was taken after harvest. Pu Er is unique in that it was traditionally made exclusively from old-growth trees found in the forests of Yunnan.
Botanists suggest that these trees (also found in Sichuan, Burma and parts of India) are the forefathers of all tea. They believe that either the southern part of Yunnan, or perhaps Lincang, is the original source of Camellia sinensis, and have even found fossilized magnolias there that are thought to be the ancestors of the first tea trees.
Harvest Overview
Contrary to popular belief, Pu Er tea is processed more simply than other kinds of tea. With Pu Er, the leaves are plucked and brought back to the village from the jungle, then they are withered to make them softer and more pliable as well as to oxidize them. The tea is then fried in a wok to "kill-green" (sa cheen), which mostly arrests oxidation and destroys enzymes that are unpleasant to taste. After this, the tea is kneaded (rou nien) on bamboo mats to break down its cellular structure and allow fermentation to begin. Finally, the raw tea (mao cha) is sun-dried. Later, after the tea is sold to a factory, it is often compressed into various shapes using steam. |
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Oxidation vs. Fermentation in Tea Production
Unlike other types of tea, fermentation is an important component in the production of Pu Er. Writers and vendors have called attention to the confusion between "oxidation" and "fermentation", a trend that is furthered by the fact that the Chinese language does not distinguish the two terms, calling them fa xiao.
Oxidation is a biochemical process in which oxygen is absorbed and then transforms a given matter. It can be controlled or occur naturally, and can have positive or negative effects on tea. The withering stage of tea production is an example of oxidation.
Fermentation is a microbial activity that requires the presence of one or more forms of bacteria, which then causes a breakdown in the cellular structure of organic matter. Cheeses and yogurts are other examples of fermented food products.
Raw vs. Ripe Pu Er Tea
When Pu Er tea is first processed, it is astringent, bitter and strong. It is also "cold" in terms of Chinese medicinal philosophy, which is only suitable to certain constitutions. For that reason, it has always been fermented, which transforms the astringency of Pu Er into a warm, smooth liquor that soothes the body and soul.
There are two kinds of Pu Er tea : raw (sheng) and ripe (shou):
Raw Pu Er is time-honored, produced in the mao cha method discussed above and then compressed into cakes when it is green. It has traditionally been fermented by storing it for several years in humid climates where the combination of moisture, oxygen and heat further the microbial activity that changes the tea.
Ripe Pu Er goes through an additional artificial fermentation that has been done in various ways throughout history and in its modern form is called wo dwei, which roughly translates to "piled". This artificial fermentation method was first tested in the 1960s, and then licensed in the early '70s. Wo dwei is done by heaping the tea into piles that are moistened and then covered with thermal blankets. The heat and moisture speed up the fermentation. The piles are stirred, rotated and sifted over the course of days, weeks or months, depending on the degree of fermentation desired.
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Fermenting Bacteria
The bacteria that allow Pu Er to ferment are present in several aspects of this unique tea.
- Old-growth trees in Yunnan's primordial forests are covered in a flora of bacteria not present on plantation teas
- The rooms where the raw material is processed are often in villages within these jungles themselves, and are enriched with the same bacteria.
- Once the tea makes it to the factory, it is steamed and compressed into various cakes. The steam rooms are equally full of bacteria.
- The humid environment where raw tea is stored, or the moistened piles in which ripe Pu Er teas are artificially fermented, also introduce the tea to bacteria to further the fermentation that cause the magical changes over time.
Old Growth Tea Tree
Because so much tea is labeled "old growth" or "old tea tree" in the world of Pu Er without a clear standard of what these terms mean beyond marketing, we must search for a fairly specific definition for "tree" as opposed to "bush", and "old growth" in comparison to new.
To be classified as a bona-fide old tea tree:
- Tea-trees, as opposed to bushes, don't reach leaf-bearing maturity until they are 10 to 15 years old, and aren't what most would call "old" until they reach 100-3000 years.
- Tea trees should be seed-propagated and allowed to follow a natural course of development as they grow.
- The cultivation and processing of the tea should be done by hand, without any pruning or cutting of the tree. All plants have a certain ratio between their crown and roots, and when we prune trees down to make harvest easier, the root system will correspondently shrink to compensate. This makes each successive harvest less healthy as the roots aren't accessing the deep spring water, minerals and energy of the mountain.
- Such tea should develop in a natural ecosystem, without the use of pesticides, weed killers or fertilizers.
Health Benefits
Pu Er tea has been celebrated since the Tang Dynasty ( 618AD-906AD ) for its health benefits and curative powers in certain diseases. Modern medical science has recently shown that the health benefits of Pu Er tea may be more than just Chinese folklore.
Since 1970 France, Japan and China have been conducting many scientific studies on Pu Er tea which suggest that it may:
* reduce cholesterol in the blood stream
* reduce body weight
* help lower high blood pressure, heart & liver diseases related to high saturated fat diets * detoxify the liver
* help prevent intestinal infection, digestive problems and constipation
* help to prevent the formation of cancer cells in the body due to its anti-oxidants
* This statement has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.
See below for June specials on Pu Er Teas!!
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Food for Healing Seminar in Bangor, Maine
Date : June 12, 2012 (Tuesday)
Time : 1pm-4pm
Location: Chopsticks, 167 Center Street, Bangor ME 04401 Fee: by donation
Please contact Christine to make your reservation or for more information
Phone: (207) 262-2170
email: christinerchou@gmail.com |
Free Dao De Jing & TCM Conference Call
Every Wednesday Evening9:00 - 9:30pm EST English
9:30 - 10:00pm EST Chinese
Dr. Ming Wu and Nick Lomangino talk about Dao De Jing study and how to practice
Dao De Jing in Tai Chi and TCM Weight loss.
*Dial-in Number: (605) 475-4700
Access Code: 1023379#
*When prompted, enter the assigned access code, followed by the # key. Once connected to the free conference call, every caller will be able to talk.
To listen to past 212 conference calls:
Playback number : (605) 475-4799
Access code : 1023379#
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| June Product Specials |
King's Pu Er Tea (entire cake - 13.21oz/375grams) - 20% discount
 An Ancient Tree Tea - hand-harvested in a wild, organic and shade-grown environment in Yunnan, China. The old tea tree forests are rich with biodiversity, fertile soil and ecological balance not typically found in cultivated tea gardens.
Type : Raw (non-fermented) Pu Er - Nan Nor Mountain, Yunnan Province
Serving size : 1 tablespoon. Can be steeped 6 to 10 times.
$ 40.00 (reg. $50) Order Now
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Happy's Puer Tea (1oz) - 20% discount
 Happy's Tea trees grow in a wild and organic environment in Happy's Mountain, Yunan, China. These tea leaves are carefully hand-picked and traditionally processed, delivering fresh and hearty aroma with sweet and refreshing aftertaste.
1 serving of loose leaf can be steeped 20-30 times.
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Zen Tea Pot - 50% discount
Clay teapot. Ming recommends this teapot for achieving the most authentic Chinese flavors from tea.
$6.00 (regular $12.00) Order Now
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Certainly Slim - 20% discount
A NATURAL way to lower your weight and reduce the risk of illness.
Certainly Slim™, an herbal supplement made by Sun Garden Herbs has helped thousands of people to control their weight and to maintain a healthy figure.
Certainly Slim™ is made of pure natural plants and is produced through scientific cooking. More information
$24.00 (regular $30.00) Order Now
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Green Leaf Wulong Tea - 20% discount
 Green Leaf Wulong Tea are hand harvested in a wild grown on Phoenix mountain, Chouchow, China. The old tea tree forests are rich with biodiversity, fertile soil and ecological balance not typically found in cultivated tea gardens. This tea looks bright, clear and the aroma is fresh and hearty, its taste is sweet, mellow, and leaves a lingering refreshing aftertaste. $16 (regular $20) Order Now top
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Upcoming Classes
For more details and to sign up, please visit our
UPDATED WEBSITE
and select the class in the calendar.
 | | Dr. Ming Wu, bio |
Tui Na and Gua Sha Workshop for Family
1:00pm - 6:00pm 45 South Main St. Suite 100, West Hartford, CT
Register Here
30 days Weight-Loss Program 3:00pm - 6:00pm 45 South Main St. Suite 100, West Hartford, CT
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Ongoing Classes
For more details and to sign up, please visit our
UPDATED WEBSITE
and select the class in the calendar.
 | Dr. Ming Wu, bio
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Yang Style Short Form Tai Chi Class - BeginnerMondays: 6:00 - 7:00pm45 South Main St. West Hartford, CT(led by Dr. Ming Wu, $10) Mondays: 7:00 - 8:00pm45 South Main St. West Hartford, CT(led by Dr. Ming Wu, $10)
Tai Chi Class Wednesdays: 9:30 - 10:30amHealth & Wellness Center - Emerson Hospital(led by Dr. Ming Wu) Wednesdays: 10 :30 - 11:30amHealth & Wellness Center - Emerson Hospital(led by Dr. Ming Wu) Wu Healing Qi Gong Class - BeginnerWednesdays: 6:00 - 7:00pmHealth & Wellness Center - Emerson Hospital(led by Dr. Ming Wu) Thursdays: 6:00 - 7:00pm Health & Wellness Center - Emerson Hospital (led by Dr. Ming Wu) Enlightenment Share - The Wake-up Call
Wednesdays: 7:30 - 8:30pm 76 Nason St. Maynard, MA $30/month (No drop in, payment monthly) Fee donated 100% to U.S. - China Chan Cultural Exchange Assoc. to promote the Zen Cultural - check payable to US-CCCEA Thursdays: 7:30 - 8:30pm Maynard, MA (led by Dr. Ming Wu, $10) top |
| Continuing Education Units (CEU) |
CEU Qualified Classes
The following classes qualify for CEU credit for
massage therapists:
Tai Chi: 8 hour class, 8 units
Qi Gong: 8 hour class, 8 units
Tui Na: 8 hour class, 8 units |
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