Posh shifts piles of Pu-Erh

Thanks to weight loss claims by professional skinny person, Victoria Beckham, Pu-Erh tea is the tipple du jour.

Whittard of Chelsea claim that sales of the ancient Chinese brew – also a fave with Joss Stone and oldie-but-hottie Jerry Hall – have gone through the roof since Posh claimed it helped her regain her figure after birth.

The brew is said to melt fat and reduce cholesterol but whatever the science, the effect is mass sales.

Pu-Erh is said to have metabolism-boosting qualities and has been drunk for its medicinal properties people of Yunnan, on the Tibet provinces, since the T’ang Dynasty (620-907AD). Whether they were particularly thin or not remains unclear.

The brew is drunk black and very lightly brewed, according to Giles Hilton, the ‘nose’ at Whittard’s. “It is medium strength and slightly sweet with a particular, earthy aroma as it’s left to mature for a number of years in underground storage.

It’s a slightly acquired taste, so I would recommend adding a pinch of flavoured tea, like Earl Grey or Jasmine, or even a squeeze of orange or lemon to enhance the flavour without in any way reducing the health benefits of this exceptional tea.”

Scientific research

Proof is scarse, but scientists in Japan are currently researching the potential cholesterol-reducing properties of Pu-Erh. Thought to stave off all kinds of illness and relieve indigestion and stomach upset, “Pu-Erh” has become known for its alleged “fat melting” properties, which has also helped to drive its popularity in Japan, where scientific studies are being carried out on its cholesterol reducing properties.

To get the maximum benefit, drinking a cup with each meal is the best way to use the tea as a metabolism-booster and contains less than one calorie per serving – the same as a cup of standard black tea.