Pu’erh Tea and Dim Sum: A Palate Cleansing Pairing

Hi there, fellow foodies! I’m sure you love dim sum as much as I do. But have you ever wondered what to drink with those delicious dumplings and buns? Well, I have the perfect answer for you: pu’erh tea!

Pu’erh tea is a type of fermented tea that originates from Yunnan province in China. It has a rich, earthy and complex flavor that can range from sweet to bitter depending on how it’s processed and aged. Pu’erh tea is also known for its health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, aiding digestion and detoxifying the body.

Pu’erh Tea and Dim Sum Pairing

But what makes pu’erh tea so great for pairing with dim sum? The answer is simple: it cleanses your palate! Dim sum dishes are often greasy, salty and spicy, which can overwhelm your taste buds and make you feel full quickly. Pu’erh tea helps to cut through the fat and balance out the flavors, so you can enjoy more varieties of dim sum without getting bored or bloated.

So how do you brew pu’erh tea? There are two main types of pu’erh tea: raw (sheng) and ripe (shou). Raw pu’erh tea is green and has a lighter and fresher taste, while ripe pu’erh tea is dark and has a deeper and smoother taste. You can use either type for dim sum pairing, but I personally prefer ripe pu’erh tea because it has a more robust and satisfying flavor.

To brew pu’erh tea, you need a small teapot or a gaiwan (a lidded bowl), a kettle of boiling water, and some pu’erh tea leaves or cakes. Pu’erh tea is usually sold in compressed cakes or bricks that you need to break apart with a knife or a pick. You only need a small amount of pu’erh tea for each brew, about 5 grams or a teaspoon.

The first step is to rinse the pu’erh tea with boiling water. This helps to wash away any dust or impurities and to awaken the leaves. Pour some boiling water over the pu’erh tea in the teapot or gaiwan, then discard the water immediately. This is called rinsing or washing the tea.

The second step is to steep the pu’erh tea with boiling water. This is where the magic happens. Pour some boiling water over the pu’erh tea again, but this time let it steep for about 10 seconds. Then pour the tea into small cups and enjoy! This is called the first infusion.

You can repeat this step several times, increasing the steeping time by 5 seconds each time. Pu’erh tea can be infused up to 10 times or more, depending on the quality and age of the tea. Each infusion will have a slightly different flavor and aroma, so you can experience the full spectrum of pu’erh tea.

The best part is that you can sip pu’erh tea throughout your dim sum meal, alternating between bites of food and sips of tea. This way, you can cleanse your palate after each dish and prepare it for the next one. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can taste and appreciate each dim sum dish with pu’erh tea.

So there you have it: pu’erh tea and dim sum, a palate cleansing pairing that will take your dim sum experience to the next level. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments below.