Ritual Health Specialty Tea Selections
Shou Puerh | Sheng Puerh | Herbal Teas
Sharing tea is an ancient practice common to every culture throughout human history. Every region and tradition has its own local herbs to enjoy throughout the seasons. Throughout history, tea is associated with health, enjoyment, creativity, ceremony, and community. Now, we are bringing our favorite teas to you at Ritual Health Acupuncture Clinic!
We invite you celebrating the culinary and therapeutic benefits of tea and make it one of your rituals for health!
Puerh Tea
Puerh (pu’er) is an aged and fermented tea, grown and crafted in the mountainous region of Southwestern China. It is famous for its rich taste and earthy, complex flavors. The aging and fermentation process creates a unique flavor and mouthfeel in each batch of tea. This is why puerh tea is often collected and saved, similar to fine wine. In our family, we have special teas we have saved for over fifteen years. In fact, we save teas from each of our children’s birth years, to share with them in the future.
Puerh tea is proven to benefit health. Medical research indicates that puerh tea can benefit cholesterol, blood sugar balance, digestive health, weight management, and alleviate anxiety. It also may benefit liver health, and some studies show that it may inhibit cancer cell development. Puerh tea is high in antioxidants and various phytonutrients.
The natural fermentation process of this tea creates a host of probiotics that benefit digestion and gastrointestinal health. In our experience, puerh tea enhances digestion, uplifts the Qi, and alleviates stagnation. Most of all, it is a wonderful way to experience the beauty and magic of the Camellia sinensis plant!
Ritual Health’s Shou Puerh Tea Collection
Reflection: 2022 Year of the Yang Water Tiger
Jingmai Mountain Shou Puerh Tea
Reflection is an artisanal Puerh shou cha crafted in 2022, the Year of the Yang Water Tiger. This tea features a bold flavor and a smooth, oily mouthfeel.
This is a true boutique tea, hand-picked by the medicine man of the village of our tea mentor. “Reflection” offers a rich and memorable tea-drinking experience.
Our dear friend, artist Annie Rosenberg, created this image of the tiger for this wrapper. This is because the tiger perfectly encapsulates the experience of this tea: a celebration of our external endeavors while also inviting introspective reflection. In Chinese astrology, the tiger symbolizes strength and power, but is known to require deep rest after exertion. Dr. Anne’s Chinese medicine and astrology teacher, Liu Ming used to teach that the tiger's black and orange stripes represent the pulsation between active public life and private, restful solitude. Sitting with this tea matches that pulsation into reflection and action…hence the name!
Immersion: 2014 & 2016 Jingmai & Lincang Blend
Special Blend Shou Puerh Tea
This tea is a blend of two beautiful teas from Jingmai and Lincang. When we think about the terroir of these teas—Jingmai mountain and Lincang—we see a line traced along the migration path of the indigenous tea people out of the Tibetan plateau along the river. Along this tract, there is a continuity through time and culture that we get to experience and can taste in these beautiful leaves! This one is Dr. Anne’s favorite. It tastes like a super old tea, but without the price tag.
上山若水 水善利萬物
“Our original nature is like water. It benefits the ten thousand without exertion.”
-Liu Ming’s translation of Dao De Jing 8
Insight: 2000 Imperial Grade
Lincang Tribute Shou PuerH Tea
The old stuff. The really good stuff.
We labeled it with the turtle because in Chinese cosmology, it holds a sacred significance. According to legend, Emperor Fuxi gained the wisdom of the eight trigrams when a divine turtle bearing these symbols emerged from the depths of the river.
These trigrams form the basis of the Zhou Yi, which depicts patterns of change in all phenomena. The turtle therefore symbolizes a timeless completion, embodying all questions and answers.
“Insight” features the image of this revered animal by friend and artist Annie Rosenberg, connecting us to the wisdom of time and urging us to embrace a broader timescape.
Sheng Puerh Tea
Song: Spring 2024 Sheng
Jingmai Mountain, ManJing Village Sheng Puerh Tea
When great nature sighs, we hear the winds
Which, noiseless in themselves,
Awaken voices from other beings,
Blowing on them.
From every opening
Loud voices sound. Have you not heard
This rush of tones? -from The Way of Chuang Tzu, Thomas Merton
This is sheng puerh, the uncooked kind. It is a different animal than the shou puerh, the cooked kind. Brewed a little differently and you can really appreciate the brightness and floral nature and freshness of the tea. It also will age well. This was a special year.
Herbal Teas
Siberian Rose Tea
Mei Gui Hua
Soothing and deeply hydrating, Siberian rose tea is perfect for warm afternoons and hot, dry weather.
According to traditional Chinese Medicine herbalism, rose decoction relieves stress and stagnation, and supports liver function. It also benefits abdominal fullness and pain, acid reflux, and belching. It soothes menstrual cramping and breast tenderness.
In Tibetan Medicine, rose is considered to calm the erratic wind energy (“Loong” རླུང།), balancing our emotional health and physiological functions.
Rose tea is considered an excellent remedy for the tensions and emotions of our modern, stressful life. At our clinic, we often invite patients to join us for a relaxing moment with a cup of Siberian rose tea!
Chrysanthemum Tea
Ju Hua
Chrysanthemum tea is a beloved herb deeply rooted in Chinese culture and traditional medicine. Often featured at the Dim Sum places due to its digestive and liver-enhancing effects, these flowers have a sweet and slightly bitter flavor with a cool nature. Soothing and moistening, Ju Hua is delightful during hot or dry weather, and during stressful, busy times, or after a big meal.
Many of its traditional health claims are supported by modern medical research. In Chinese herbal medicine, Ju Hua tea is applied to benefit the eyes, and clear pathological wind and heat. The tea is associated with mild anti-hypertensive properties, helping to reduce blood pressure.
It is rich in potassium, calcium, and iron among other micronutrients. Ju Hua tea helps to clear toxins from the blood. It helps improve alcohol metabolism and reduce hangovers.
In our clinic, we often recommend chrysanthemum tea as an herbal tea for daily health and self-care.