Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world and there are six main types of tea. Puerh tea is a subtype that has become really popular over the last few decades and more and more people want to try it. However, they don’t really know when to drink it. Should you drink it in the morning? Can you drink puerh tea at night? This article gives a full overview.
You can drink puerh tea at night. However, it’s best to avoid puerh tea with a lot of caffeine at this time of day because it might affect your sleep. Aged sheng puerh and aged shu puerh are low on caffeine so these teas are perfect to drink at night.
Caffeine in puerh tea
Puerh tea is made from a Camellia Sinensis varietal, which means that there is caffeine in puerh tea. There are several factors that determine the amount of caffeine, but there are general principles to know if your tea is highly caffeinated.
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In general, one can assume that old puerh tea has less caffeine than young puerh. This means that some puerh teas are better to drink at noon, and some are more suitable to drink at night or in the evening right before you go to bed.
When is the best time for puerh tea?
Before discussing this further, it’s important to keep in mind that these are only recommendations and you should always listen to what your body is telling you. if you’re brewing a particular tea in the morning and you’re not feeling well afterward, it’s a sign that it’s not working for you.
Everyone is different and likes different things, so it’s best to figure out what, how and when you like your tea. These guidelines offer a starting point to start experimenting and see what works for you.
Puerh tea in the morning
After waking up, your body is usually a bit dehydrated so drinking tea is ideal to restore the water level in your body.
A light tea might be a good option because it won’t upset the stomach too much. It’s best to eat breakfast first because otherwise, your body absorbs more caffeine and you might feel some negative effects of the caffeine.
I recommend brewing lighter tea than you usually do so your stomach doesn’t feel weird afterward. If you’re drinking puerh tea in the morning, use less tea for the same amount of water and/or reduce the brewing times.
If you want to drink puerh tea in the morning, I suggest picking a tea that is lighter in caffeine. Some examples are aged sheng puerh and aged or semi-aged ripe puerh.
Puerh tea in the afternoon
The afternoon is an ideal time to enjoy a nice cup of tea. In the afternoon, your body is usually fully awake and tea might help your stomach to digest food.
You don’t really have to pay attention to caffeine at this time of day because if you don’t overdo it, your body should be able to deal with the caffeine you ingest.
I personally recommend young sheng puerh in the afternoon. Young sheng is usually higher in caffeine, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re healthy and have a healthy lifestyle.
Puerh tea at night
A question I sometimes get is if it is ok to drink puerh tea at night. The simple answer is yes, but there are some factors to keep in mind. Some believe that the immune system of the human body is at its peak during the evening.
Still, it’s best to avoid teas that have high caffeine levels. I recommend drinking a cup of aged sheng puerh because caffeine is usually lower in this kind of tea. Shu (ripe) puerh works as well, but it should be aged as well; the older the better.
Aged puerh tea (especially aged sheng puerh) has medicinal qualities and is beneficial for your health. These teas also help with stomach issues and aid digestion after heavy meals.
Conclusion
You can drink tea throughout the day, but it’s important to keep in mind when to drink particular teas. Almost every tea and especially puerh tea works in the afternoon as your body should be able to cope with the caffeine at this time of day.
Mornings are different for everyone but a general guideline is to drink light teas or brew them lighter than you would usually do. Aged sheng and aged shu puerh are ideal to drink at night because they are low on caffeine and have several health benefits.
