Puer Tuocha Tea

Definition and Varieties

Yunnan Tuo tea is a type of compressed tea made from high-quality sun-dried green tea leaves, which are steamed and pressed at high temperatures. There are two main types of Yunnan Tuo tea:

1. Green Tea Tuo: Made from finer sun-dried green tea leaves and processed by steaming and pressing.
2. Pu’er Tuo: Made from Pu’er loose tea leaves, steamed, and pressed.

The Tuo tea made from sun-dried green tea is referred to as Yunnan Tuo tea, while that made from Pu’er tea is called Yunnan Pu’er Tuo tea.

Origin of the Name

There are several legends about the origin of the name “Tuo tea.” Some say it was named after Tuojiang in Sichuan where it was historically sold. Others suggest that the name “Tuo” evolved from the ancient term “Tuan tea” due to its shape. Regardless of the explanation, Tuo tea is considered an ancient tea product from Yunnan.

Historical Records

As early as the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620), Xie Zhaozhi’s book “Dian Lue” mentioned “all tea used by scholars and commoners was Pu’er tea, steamed and pressed into rounds,” indicating that compressed tea was already in use around 400 years ago.

The modern form of Yunnan Tuo tea originated in Jinggu County, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. Known as “Gu tea,” it was created in the 28th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign (1902) and has been in existence for over eighty years. It evolved from “young girl’s tea” (also known as “private tea”) from the Simao region into its current Tuo shape.

Regional Variations

By the late Qing Dynasty, the tea distribution market in Yunnan gradually shifted to Xiguan, a region with advanced transportation and commerce. Tea brands like Maoheng, Fuchunhe, and Yongchangxiang began producing bowl-shaped Tuo tea, leading to the differentiation between Gu Zhuang tea and Guan Zhuang tea.

• Gu Zhuang Tuo Tea: Often made from sun-dried green tea leaves from the Jinggu area.
• Guan Zhuang Tuo Tea: Made from tea leaves of various types such as Mengku tea, Fengshan tea, and Daxian tea, and processed in factories in Xiguan. It is of higher quality and more rapidly developed, eventually surpassing Gu Zhuang tea.

Guan Zhuang Tuo tea, transported from Kunming to Sichuan’s Xufu (now Yibin), Chengdu, and Chongqing, is also known as Xufu tea. Since the establishment of New China in 1949, Yunnan Tuo tea has seen improvements in production quantity and quality, becoming popular nationwide. Representative Tuo teas from Yunnan today include Xiguan Tuo tea, Menghai Tuo tea, Fenghuang Tuo tea, and Fengqing Tuo tea.

Quality Characteristics

• Yunnan Tuo Tea: Shaped like a bowl, it has a moderately tight and well-formed appearance, dark color with a silvery down, pure and rich aroma, full-bodied taste, bright orange-yellow liquor, and soft, thick leaves.
• Pu’er Tuo Tea: Also bowl-shaped, but with a reddish-brown color, unique aged aroma, rich taste with a sweet aftertaste, and a bright red liquor.

Production in Other Regions

Besides Yunnan, Sichuan and Chongqing also produce Tuo tea. They are categorized into three types based on the quality of raw materials:

• Premium Chongqing Tuo Tea
• Chongqing Tuo Tea
• Mountain City Tuo Tea

Sichuan Tuo tea comes in weights of 50 grams, 100 grams, and 250 grams.

Shape and Characteristics

Pu’er Tuo tea appears like an inverted bowl from the bottom and resembles a thick-walled bowl from the top. It is classified into green tea Tuo and black tea Tuo based on the raw materials used. Green tea Tuo is made from finer sun-dried green tea leaves, while black tea Tuo is made from Pu’er tea.

Development History

Tuo tea is a traditional and ancient product from Yunnan, with a history dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The modern production of Tuo tea, resembling an inverted bowl, has been established for over sixty years. Its unique shape and excellent quality have gained widespread recognition both domestically and internationally. In 1986, a 100-gram Pu’er Tuo tea from Yunnan’s Xiguan Tea Factory won the Paris Golden Rooster Award.

Name Origin

The name “Tuo tea” has various origins. Some believe it was named due to its shape resembling a “Tuan” tea, while others think it was named after its historical distribution to Tuojiang in Sichuan. The tea is unique in appearance, looking like a round bread from above and a thick-walled bowl from below. It is typically wrapped in bamboo leaves, tied with bark or bamboo strips, and weighs around 100 grams or 250 grams. This packaging facilitates long-distance transport and long-term storage.

Health Benefits

Dr. Emil Karoubi, Clinical Teaching Director at Saint Anthony Medical Institute in Paris, demonstrated that Yunnan Pu’er Tuo tea is effective in reducing lipids and cholesterol levels. Clinical trials at Kunming Medical College have shown that Pu’er tea is more effective than some lipid-lowering drugs. Long-term consumption of Pu’er tea can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, making it beneficial for treating obesity. It also helps lower blood pressure and improve blood flow, benefiting patients with hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Pu’er tea’s effects on vascular softening are notable, though its impact on promoting intestinal detoxification is relatively limited.

Recent research in Yunnan Province has confirmed that Pu’er tea has blood sugar-lowering effects, providing strong theoretical support for its use in preventing and treating type II diabetes. Type II diabetes is associated with abnormal activity of a specific enzyme in the body, which is a target for treatment. However, there are no safe and effective inhibitors for clinical use yet.

Classification

Historically, Yunnan Tuo tea has been categorized into two types:

1. Raw Tuo: Made from sun-dried green tea, with a dark appearance, clear liquor, fragrant aroma, and sweet aftertaste.
2. Ripe Tuo: Made from fermented Pu’er tea, with a reddish-brown color, bright red liquor, warm and sweet taste, and is mainly exported to Western Europe, North America, and Asia.

The Xiguan Tea Factory is renowned for its Tuo tea, made from high-quality sun-dried green tea leaves from the Simao region. The tea is known for its fine quality, neat appearance, and beautiful packaging. Premium Tuo tea uses tender young shoots from February to March, resulting in a tea that is rich in flavor and improves with age, making it valuable for collection and appreciation.

Storage

Storing Pu’er tea differs significantly from other teas. Most teas require “freshness preservation” to prevent oxidation, but Pu’er tea needs specific conditions for “aging.” Proper temperature and humidity are crucial, as the oxidation process (aging) is influenced by these factors. The ideal conditions are a moisture content of 8%-10% and a temperature of 20°C-25°C.

For home storage, keeping Pu’er tea near a window or in a well-ventilated area is beneficial. Avoid direct sunlight and dark environments, as light exposure can cause chlorophyll degradation and affect the tea’s color. A dedicated storage area is recommended to prevent contamination from odors, such as those from cooking, cosmetics, and cleaning products. If possible, use a specialized “tea storage room” or repurpose other spaces for tea storage.