2 Weeks of Puerh

Anita Buck- Day three!

2010-11-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

Day three: Trip to nearby town. Afternoon at the beach. Would LOVE to stop by the cool little espresso stand for one on ice. To home I went, to put on some tea and enjoy the cool temperature of my house.

Anita Buck: Day Two

2010-10-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Day Two: Trip to nearby town. Afternoon at the beach. Would LOVE to stop by the cool little espresso stand for one on ice. To home I went, to put on some tea and enjoy the cool temperature of my house.

Anita Buck takes the Puerh Challenge!

2010-10-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

I visited your booth at ExpoWest in Anaheim and signed up for the challenge. I couldn't resist the bag, or the challenge. :) I really, really enjoy my afternoon Italian espresso. So much so that I feel I need a break now and then to prove to myself I'm not addicted. I must admit, it's hard and only happens once a year at most. So, I had been staring at that Numi bag wondering when I was going to follow through on my commitment and finally decided to start.

Day one: Saturday morning. I can do this. I don't need my Bialetti today. Let's start out with what sounds like the richest, most delightful of the bunch - the Chocolate Puerh of course. Hmmm, nice with breakfast. Afternoon has come and I would really like my espresso now and some dark chocolate. I'm out of dark chocolate anyway. Let's see what the Emperor has to offer. Nice. Immediately one of the best "brown" teas I've enjoyed. This is more fulfilling than most high-quality English teas.

How do you say Puerh??

2010-09-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Puerh is an ancient fermented tea known for its healthy properties and rich taste. Its unique fermentation process results in 32% more antioxidants than green tea. Puerh is purported to aid weight management, digestion and rejuvenating energy! Sounds great, right? It is!

The only problem is, no one knows how to say it... we hear everything from Poo-ray to Perf! Have some fun with your friends and family by making a video tape of them trying to pronounce "Puerh." YOu can do this by writing Puerh on a sheet of paper... showing them a box of Puerh tea; however you can get it done. Enter to win a year's supply of Numi's Organic Puerh tea by sending the clip to 2weeks@numitea.com with your name and address or post on our facebook page.

Thanks for helping us spread the word of Puerh, and your friendship. Enjoy!

2010-07-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Name: Sony Todd

Fix Drink of Choice: Coffee/Soda

Day 1 - I'm starting this 2 week challenge and I have to be honest when I say that I am nervous to give up my coffee, soda and most of all, my other teas! I like drinking coffee in the morning and then a cup of tea in the late afternoon or evening. I will also admit that I'm a bit of a tea snob. I dislike adding anything to my tea (sugar, milk, sweetener, etc.) and enjoy rooibos, green, oolong, jasmine and the occasional flavored black. As for puerh, I don't have a single box in my cupboard! I'm not sure why, but nothing has ever jumped out at me... until now, with Numi's chocolate puerh. I love flavored, sweet and creamy teas because they allow me to feel like I'm indulging not to mention they offer health benefits! So I guess I am looking forward to the chocolate puerh I picked up. Boiled water, popped a bag into a white mug and I'm sipping (wait, more like gulping) down this delicious brew! Look at what I've been missing! The flavor is delicious... absolutely delicious. I love the notes of vanilla, chocolate and spice. It all swirls together so nicely with the tea base that it makes for one of the smoothest cups I've ever had. The flavor, for some reason, reminds me of Christmas. Before I know it, I'm down to the last drop! I'm hitting myself on the head for not trying this tea sooner. It has soared to the top of my favorites list.

Day 3 - I woke up craving (yes, craving) the chocolate puerh tea. Instead of making a cup of coffee, I'm putting the kettle on and counting down the seconds until I can sip my tea! Ah, it's as pleasant as it was last night.. just as delightful, smooth and comforting. Something I have noticed is that coffee seems to be much more harsh on my system. After I finish my cup of coffee, I'm typically feeling alert, but also a little bit like I've had something that isn't so good for my body. This puerh gives me that boost I need, but it does it in a much more gentle way.

Day 6 - I'm having that afternoon sinking spell and I have to leave for work in a little while. I need something to perk me up! Time for a cup of puerh tea!

Day 10 - Leaving for my evening class and don't have time to relax at home! I'm going to try this iced and take it with me. I think that I prefer this tea hot, but it isn't bad iced. It's not as soft as it is when it's in a hot mug, but it still is sweet and somewhat more 'earthy'. I like it!

Day 12 - A little late for drinking this tea, I think.. but I'm craving something sweet and satisfying. I don't want to reach for the cookies on my counter, so tea it is! Hot and delicious. I'm actually looking forward to more days of this challenge. The tea bags in my boxes are quickly disappearing. I wish I had an unlimited supply!

Thank you for having this challenge. Without it, I don't think I would have been introduced to one of my favorite teas in the whole world. I love that it is organic, sweet and comforting. What a tea!

Joan Diestel is Hooked on Puerh!

2010-07-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

Name: Joan Diestel

Hometown: Sonora, CA

Fix Beverage of Choice: Coffee

Day 1-- I was first introduced to the Puerh Challenge at the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim. With all the health benefits, I thought—why not! I like challenges and this will be good for me as well.

So I started my day with the Emperor’s Puerh and was surprised at how smooth and delicious it was first thing in the morning. I am not a plain black tea drinker and this was amazing. Mid morning I treated myself to the Magnolia Puerh and thought….this is nice. After reading other challenge participants’ comments about the chocolate tea, I chose to have an afternoon pick-me-up with a hot cup of the chocolate Puerh tea—oh my! When I needed just a little something mid afternoon, this really did it! The flavor is mild and delicious. After dinner –yes, the Mint Puerh Tea was my choice. Soooo good. Again, just the treat to cozy up with after dinner and while bringing the day to an end.

Day 2—no better way to start out today than with the Emperor’s Puerh again. So nice to enjoy and get my day started. Because I like looking forward to the chocolate and mint teas later in the day, I did have a Magnolia Puerh mid morning. It is subtle in flavor….and I am torn which of the two I like better….Emperor’s or Magnolia. Mid afternoon I made a cup of the Mint Tea…so that I could enjoy the chocolate after dinner. Ahhh….the mint was perfect for the afternoon pick-me-up as well. Love it!

Day 3—looking forward to another day with Puerh Teas! Though I have to admit, I only had 3 cups today….I skipped the magnolia mid morning. All good…..Interesting though, while I have enjoyed my coffee in the past, and drink teas as well, I have never been hooked and looking forward to “which Puerh Tea will I have this time?”!! I actually look forward to these treats. So far this is the best challenge I have been involved with! My family knows I am not drinking coffee for 2 weeks. And even though the coffee aroma is in the house in the morning and after dinner, I am not tempted. I have my Puerh Tea…what else do you need?!

Day 9-- I am still enjoying 3-4 cups of Puerh tea each day and feeling satisfied and happy I have this wonderful ancient fermented tea to sip. However, I am leaving today on a business trip and I think….how will I continue my challenge? Easy….take the bags with me. And I did. All I would need is a cup of hot water and I was set. So tonight in my hotel room….settling in with a cup of Chocolate Tea….yummmm!

Day 14—Still on the road and enjoying my Puerh Tea. One cup in the morning and one cup at night seems to work the best while travelling. Somehow I like waking up to the Emperor’s—again I think because I have something like chocolate (my favorite) and the mint (my second favorite) to enjoy later in the day. I still am not missing my coffee. Though I have to admit, that one day during the challenge, I thought….maybe I want to have a coffee (I was with others ordering coffees and this day it did smell good!). I ordered one and didn’t even finish it!! Somehow, it wasn’t as satisfying as I had remembered. While I deviated from the Puerh Tea, this did answer my question about why I have not been tempted and even feeling like I am missing out! I haven’t gone back to coffee. I am hooked! Puerh Tea is sooo tasty and satisfying. I just feel better when I treat myself to Puerh Teas. And with all those antioxidants and health benefits—I can enjoy doing something good for my body!

Thank you to the folks at Numi Tea for your passion in bringing us health, vitality and simple pleasure in your Puerh Teas!

It's easier than ever to take the 2 Weeks of Puerh Challenge

2010-06-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Although summer is finally here, you can still choose a healthier alternative to your daily "fix" beverage (coffee, diet soda, etc) with Numi's Organic Puerh Tea!

Anyone who sends us 2 journals (written or video) about their 2 week experience, and we post on this blog, will be given 2 weeks worth of free organic Puerh Tea from Numi.

All you need to do is send your journals, name, mailing address, and fix beverage of choice to 2weeks@numitea.com. And enjoy reading about others Puerh Tea experience below.

BTW- Our Mint Puerh and Emperor's Puerh are great over ice!

Click here to learn more about the Puerh Challenge.

Megan Black Completed the Puerh Challenge!

2010-06-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Name: Megan Black
Hometown: San Rafael, CA

Megan completed the Puerh Challenge months ago! Read on to learn more about Puerh from a true believer. Thanks Megan!

Thought 1:
To Puerh or not to Puerh, that is the question.

I have really tried to eliminate caffeine from my life in favor of sleep but I started drinking Puerh as part of the challenge, one cup in the morning…..and my insomnia is no worse and sometimes better…I have stepped up the cardio exercise, so I’m sure that helps.

Let’s see…reasons I like Puerh: well the taste, it’s so earthy and subtle and almost gentle at the same time it’s refreshing…and then there’s the lift: comes on so sneaky, it’s just not a sudden jolt, more like sunrise in the mist, the light comes on and there’s a happy feeling, no kidding, I think this might be the best part; Puerh is my happy tea. I keep noticing the mood lift. And the mental clarity.

Thought 2:
Ok. So now I’m indulging in a second cup: here’s what I do: Make a pot of tea in the morning with at least two cups of water and one teabag. Drink the first cup a few minutes later and let it steep all day…then around 4 o’clock I have the second cup, by then it’s rich and dark but never bitter. Now that was a surprise, I suppose because it’s fermented whatever makes tea turn bitter is gone. If it’s a warm day I’ll ice it…amazing as iced tea.

A few times I’ve skipped the four o’clock cup and let it steep into the next day: richer, darker and even better flavor, not a trace of bitterness.

Thought 3:
I started trying the Magnolia Puerh (I had been favoring the Emperor’s Black) and I discovered that it is not as strong in terms of the caffeine. At least that’s my perception. The taste is more complex and of course it’s a Green tea, not a black tea so it doesn’t have that underlying characteristic black tea taste. I began to really like the Magnolia because it takes more attention to notice the slight taste of the flower oils and the buzz comes on a little slower. But really I can go all morning on just one cup of Magnolia and really fee like I’m clear. I’m still brewing a single bag in 2 ½ cups of water…..plenty of strength in the tea flavor and also works to let it steep all day.

Brett Casper from Manhattan completed the Puerh Challenge!

2010-06-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Almost immediately after I put the bag into the water the tea begins to steep and visibly twist and turns throughout the light amber. Fist sip. I must admit I have drunk this tea before. The flavor is bold the final cup is dark, looks chocolaty and feels thick. The flavor is smooth. It reminds me of a Japanese burnt rice tea I drink in Japan sometimes. "Genmaicha". The flavor is different but the overtones are there.I stopped drinking coffee 10 years ago because of the ill side effects. I occasionally indulge but not often. I started drinking tea more when I moved to Japan. These days I drink tea every day. Of late it reminds me of my father. When I was a kid he would also drink tea with milk and sugar and I would steal sips when he wasn't looking.

Day 1 Afternoon Tea
My hectic schedule doesn't always afford me time in the morning to enjoy a sit down cup of tea. I was just speaking with a colleague of mine while enjoying this cup. Her name is Beau Rhee, she is a conceptual ballerina and fine artist from Korea. Beau has actually drunk an 80 year old Puerh tea in Korea. In Korean they refer to it as a warming tea. This particular one came from China. She explained how they come in round disk-like blocks about 8" in diameter and 1" think. Since this tea is so old the first soak is discarded as a detoxifier.In Korea they drink the tea from small shot like cups. One small chunk of a disk gives you about 10 soaks! Potent stuff. To listen to her describe the ritual was pretty interesting, the almost euphoric effects coupled with a fresh ginger tea like warm buzz sums it up. The health benefits are supposed to be great.

Day 3 Breakfast
This morning I steeped the bag a bit too long. More than 4 or 5 minutes and it starts to become slightly bitter. Some people prefer a longer steep than shorter. I prefer the shorter. I imagine if you like the coffee bitterness then steep a cup of Emporers Puerh for 10 minutes or so. It will still be much smoother than coffee I imagine but the bitterness will still be there. Today I threw in some Belgian Apple Bloom Honey to smooth out the flavor.

Day 4 Evening
I dont have much time to write today I am moving back into Manhattan in 2 days! I cant wait. We just had dinner. I made bronze cut Casarecce pasta with brussel sprouts all organic of course. It always tastes better when its organic! So on to the tea. I love a cup of tea after a meal and thats what this is about. Caffeine is a great pick me up and the tea aids in digestion. Win win.

Day 7 Afternoon Tea
I almost always use honey, if anything, with my tea but I have taken to using a little sugar when I drink the Emporer's Puerh. It enables me to enjoy the tea flavor more than the honey.

Day 8 Noon Tea
After a week of drinking the Puerh I must admit I dont want to go back to normal tea. There is something nice and delicate about the Puerh and I feel great when I drink it. Some Earl grey teas kinda make me wired almost like coffee. But there's none of that wired feeling. I just feel alive!

Day 14 Breakfast Final Day
I re-read all of my posts as I typed them up this morning with my final cup. I imagine at this point I sound like a poster child for Puerh tea. Im hardly anyones poster child trust me. But I do love this tea. Im sad to see my last cup go. As an advocate of tea in general, yet coming from a previously heavy coffee drinker the last thing I'd say is that if you like coffee of all the Numi Puerh tea's I have tasted the Emporer's Puerh would be the closet, plus you get all the health benefits of tea!Thanks Numi for the tea. I loved it please send me lots more for free! :)

Marie-Annick from Irvine, CA said YES to the Puerh Challenge!

2010-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

Name: Marie-Annick Courtier
Hometown: Irvine, CA
My morning beverage of choice: Coffee

Day 1: I substituted my morning coffee with the Organic Chocolate Puerh.
I let it soak for a few minutes, as suggested. I liked it right away.
During that morning, I also noticed how energized I was, actually quite more than with my regular cup of coffee.

Day 2: I decided to try the Organic Emperor’s Puerh and did pretty much the same procedure as day 1. I also loved it. It reminded me of a tea I used to drink when I was a child at my grand-mother’s place. It brought nice memories and I know it was why my experience felt even better than my first trial. I felt energized until lunch and in pretty good spirits.

Day 3: I tried the Magnolia Puerh and did the same procedure as the previous days. I honestly did not like the flowery flavors of that one. The aroma bothered me and I had to stop after half a cup. I felt nauseated and sick to my stomach. It took me a few hours that morning to feel ok.

Day 4: I went back to the chocolate flavor and enjoyed it again. Curious about what happened yesterday, I decided to make a cup of the Magnolia in the afternoon. Once again, it bothered me. Something in it does not agree with me for sure. So I decided to give up that one totally.

Day 5: Went back to the other two flavors and enjoyed a cup in the morning and one later in the afternoon. I noticed that I was too wound up in the evening and had difficulty to sleep, just like if I drank coffee. So I realized that I needed to drink it only in the morning unless I needed to stay up late in the night.

The next few days, I decided to take a break to avoid getting hooked. I wanted to wait and decide to enjoy a cup of it on my own terms. So after 5 days, I chose to enjoy again a cup of Puerh in the morning. It was a pleasure of the senses and I felt great all morning long.

I have to say, I love my coffee and will never give it for tea. I like to vary the pleasures though, and a cup of the Puerh flavors that agrees with me will definitively be part of some of my breakfast habits. I also can tell you, that if I need energy through a long afternoon or night of work, Puerh will be my first choice from now on. I simply do not like to drink coffee during the day.

Thank you to have introduced me to your teas. I would never have looked them up in the store. They are now part of my favorite tea collection!

Lisa Knoop Completed the Puerh Tea Challenge!

2010-06-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Name: Lisa Knoop
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Fix Beverage of Choice: Coffee

Pre-Challenge: I just signed up for the Puerh challenge. I bought it for my mom for Christmas after reading that it can help with overall health and issues with high blood pressure. I tried it and now I want to take the challenge!

Day 1:
I decided to buy a package of the Emperor’s Puerh and start early today instead of waiting for my teas to arrive. I am in good health but I just found out that family history has caught up with me and my blood pressure has gone up too. I usually drink one coffee in the mornings and have done this everyday (or else I end up with a headache) since I lived in Italy and got hooked on coffee. My first morning having Emperor’s Puerh instead of coffee I am very surprised that I don’t crave my espresso or café latte and I really like the way it tastes

Day 2:
I find myself looking forward to the morning when I will have another tea, and one less day with coffee. I usually don’t drink teas because I never drink them fast enough and they always get cold in my cup. This time I am using my little metal thermos that I keep at my desk so I can drink smaller cups over time and they are always hot.

Day 3-6:
I received my box of Numi tea and was surprised to see that included not just the emperor’s puerh but also the chocolate puerh, magnolia puerh and the mint puerh. So now I have many more flavors to try. For my morning cup I stick with the Emperor’s Puerh but in the afternoon I tried the magnolia and it’s quite nice. It has a less robust flavor but is still enjoyable.

Day 7:
I have been having less headaches and feel like my blood pressure has also gone down as I continue to drink the puerh tea. I tried the chocolate puerh thinking it would be amazing but it didn’t taste anything like chocolate and I really didn’t like the flavor. I will keep it around for guests who enjoy more floral flavors in their teas. The other three flavors have all been delicious and I know I will continue drinking each of them even after my two weeks are up.

Day 8-13:
Off to Guadalajara, Mexico for an art show. I’m so grateful I brought the little packs of tea with me. First morning at our hotel breakfast I ordered what they called a “capaccino,” which was (I know) cheating on my agreement to drink only the tea and no coffee but it sounded so good after travelling and being in a new place…well I was quickly disappointed when they brought me something that tasted a bit like powdered hot chocolate in water. I whipped out my Emperor’s Puerh and decided to try it with sugar and milk for the first time. Yummy! I then promptly introduced the other artists on the trip to the tea telling them all about the puerh challenge and how great it was to find I could enjoy drinking something other than coffee everyday.

Day 14:
Back to work and the normal routine, back to my thermos of Emperor’s Puerh mmmmm. Today I felt like an evangelist, well sort of. I may have converted yet another friend to the puerh way. Kevin was looking stressed and tired and he told me he had drunk to much coffee. So I suggested he try numi’s puerh teas and found myself gushing about how good they taste, how they are just as satisfying as coffee but you don’t get the bad side effects etc. I think I have passed out 1/3 of the tea bags sent to me so now I am really glad I purchased that box at the start of my two weeks.

After Thoughts:
I carry around a tea bag in my purse now. Whenever I feel like I want a coffee I reach for the Emperor’s Puerh instead. I know I will continue to drink coffee occasionally because I really like the way it tastes and smells but now I have an alternative that I can drink and know it is helping me become even more healthy at the same time.

Words from a self-described 'Puerh pusher'!

2010-05-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Check out Amy Sherman's blog, 'Cooking with Amy', where she talks about her experience with Numi's Puerh Tea.

Amy writes, "Puerh is a fermented and aged green tea that has many of the characteristics of black tea and more antioxidants than either black or green tea. It is dark and malty with rich flavor that can handle a splash of milk. Up until recently it was almost impossible to find high quality puerh tea bags. Normally I buy all my tea loose leaf, bulk, never in bags, but Numi Tea is making some fabulous puerh tea blends, available in bags. They use whole leaf tea, not dust. The convenience of tea bags has worked well for me because I am usually just drinking one cup and I often take a few bags in my purse and my suitcase."

For the complete review of Numi's Organic Puerh teas, visit Amy's blog, 'Cooking with Amy: A Food Blog'.

Thanks for taking the Puerh Challenge Amy!!

Scott Radabaugh's 2 Weeks of Puerh Tea

2010-05-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Name: Scott Radabaugh

Hometown: Portland, OR

Fix Beverage of Choice: Coffee

day 1: emporers puerh- skipped the coffee and went for some tea! couple hours later-chocolate puerh (before movement number 2...number 2 ha!) 3 cups mint puerh-(not my favorite, but i don't care for mint, so i had it iced with honey)

day 2: emporers puerh- delicious, so much flavor i say...i am excited about what may be coming out of my tail end, years of buildup! although i don't eat meat so hopefully that has been cleared out over the past couple of years*gas-sy*4 movements today (1 more than normal)

day3: chocolate puerh (thought i would treat myself this morning)2 cups iced mint puerh 4 movements

day4: emporer puerh with breaky magnolia puerh - ummm yumm!

day 5: magnolia puerh with breaky getting warm out so went with 2 cups iced mint puerh with honey

day 6: HOT OUT, can't bear to turn the stove on without having air conditioning 4 cups iced mint puerh

day 7: see day 6 i must say, i never weigh myself, but i am feeling a little less jiggly. that is a good feeling

day 8: again too hot out 3 cups iced mint puerh with honey

day 9: emporers puerh with breakfast and lunch chocolate puerh before bed*i have NEVER had to wake up to have a movement until this evening

day 10: 2 cups emporer's puerh i love the coffee-ness of it, i mean, it just looks like it is going to taste good

day 11: emporer's puerh after breakfast iced mint puerh with and after lunch (i don't care for mint, but there is something refreshing about it when it is iced)

day 12: welcome back heat 3 cups iced min puerh

day 13: same as day 12 but 4 cups instead of 3

day 14: feeling a little decadent today so i went with 2 cups of chocolate puerh overall, i can't say if i lost weight or not, as i haven't stepped on a scale in years, and i fear if i stepped on one now i would vow to never step on one again....BUT, i feel less bloated which is a very nice feeling...i could see where if someone, say, ate meat and drank this, it would help clear things out, but i haven't eaten meat in a couple of years, and being candid, i am quite regular, so i don't think there was much clearing out on my part.the flavors are all delicious, emporer's, chocolate, magnolia, and even mint, which i have stated, i am not really partial to. but if you have it iced on a hot day, there is an extra coolness to it because of the mint. i have already recommended puerh tea to friends and i will continue to purchase it. excellent tea numi!

Rob Gibbs - Pleasanton, CA

2010-05-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Numi's California Food Service Rep has a lot of incredible things to say about his experience drinking Puerh Tea, and the benefits the ancient healing tea has provided him through the years.

Enjoy the video:

Jaime Eschette's 2 Weeks of Puerh Tea

2010-04-26T12:02:00.001-07:00

Name: Jaime Eschette

Hometown: Summerland, CA

Fix Beverage of Choice: Coffee

My voyage into the Puerh Challenge

Day One

Early on Monday our mailroom attendant brings me my two week supply of Puerh Tea. Upon opening the box I am surprised to find two different options to keep me going on my two-week challenge: The Magnolia Puerh and the Emperor’s Puerh.

Quite honestly, I didn’t really know what I signed myself up for. What the heck is Puerh tea and why did I willingly give up my normal every couple days cup-o-joe? Come to find out, Puerh tea is a type of tea made from a “large leaf” variety of the tea plant camellia sinensis and named after Pu’er city in China. Apparently, it still has enough caffeine to keep you going through the day and if all goes well down the hatch, this should be fun, right?

So I grab my mug that our company so nobly gave us in an effort to cut down on paper use, and I head to the water cooler for some hot water. My first choice was the Emperor’s Puerh. I ripped open the packed and plunged the tea bag into the water and checked the time. Four minutes later, I took my first sip….warm (of course), earthy and no bitterness. I usually add a little agave to my tea but this time I decided to forgo the accessories and just enjoy plain. Ahhh, very nice.
Sitting my mug down in front of me, my phone rings. I went to go grab the receiver and on the way, tipped over the entire contents of my mug on my key board. Final note…keyboard and Puerh not friends but sign me up for day two.

Day Four

Did I mention I decided to take this challenge during one of the busier weeks of my work life?? Two days ago I left for Salt Lake City, Utah. Each year we head out to the land of 3.2 beers for our bi-annual tradeshows. It’s a busy week with very, very little time to slow down.
I was committed to the challenge and promised myself to religiously down at least one cup of tea every day. And I have to say, so far, so good. I’m two days into it and I really don’t mind missing that morning cup like I thought I would. I’m not going to lie and say that this tea fulfills my taste buds therefore making coffee drinking a thing of the past. However, I have been enjoying the mellow buzz in contrast to the cracked out feeling coffee can something leave you with. With my one cup of tea in the morning I was able to feel wide awake and get through my meetings (which are booked every half hour from 9am till 6pm) feeling calm and focused.

Day Six

Tradeshow now has come and gone and I’m proud to say I finished off the full week drinking one cup of either Puerh Magnolia or Emperor’s every morning. I can’t say that I’ve noticed too many health benefits just yet but I am still liking the flavor and feeling focused and awake instead of jittery.

I’ll keep you posted as I move into a mellower week being home.

Day Nine

I’m not sure if this was against the rules or not but I did enjoy a quiet morning this past weekend with a cup of (shhh) coffee instead of my tea. Am I disqualified from the challenge?? I will say this though; the reintroduction of coffee after one week not drinking it shocked my system. I’ve vowed to revert to my tea for the remainder of the two weeks from here.

Day Ten

Ah, the warm cup of Magnolia Puerh has really grown on me over this past experience. The flavor reminds me more of a yerba mate than an earl grey; rich and earthy rather than floral or fragrant. I have now tried it both sweetened and unsweetened and I would have to say that drinking it with a touch of honey or agave is probably the best for me.
Regarding health benefits, I have noticed a great deal of difference between the buzz of java vs. the smooth perk of Puerh. It is nice to not feel so cracked out but rather enjoy the morning as it should be enjoyed. Also, there isn’t any unnecessary hassle with coffee pots, creamer and sweetener….only my favorite mug, the sweet sound of the kettle as it reminds me that it’s morning, a tea bag and a touch of honey. So simple, so perfect.

Day Twelve

It is the last day of said challenge however I was able to create a change in my morning routines through this experience. It’s probably not fair to say I will never drink coffee again but I did truly enjoying seeing how my body responds differently drinking tea vs. coffee. There is no doubt that tea makes me feel better. (Not to mention the absence of coffee breath.) The Puerh tea especially was nice as I learned more on Numi’s commitment to quality, organic ingredients and giving back. It’s easy to feel good when you’re giving your body the good stuff. After all, we are what we eat…or in this case, drink.

Margaret Cook from Boston, Georgia

2010-04-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

I happened upon the Puerh Tea challenge at a booth at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco on Jan. 19. The hope that I might lose weight while drinking health enhancing tea was too much to resist. So I signed up then and there on the spot. I was delighted to leave the show with a 2 week supply of Puerh Tea and a handsome brown Puerh T-shirt.

Being a life long Southerner (Boston, Georgia), my exposure to hot tea was limited. We drink it sweet and with ice. Hot tea has never appealed to me……..until now. The few cups of hot tea I have ever had came across like slightly off tasting water.

But….with the weight loss incentive and much touted health benefits, I decided it was time to give hot tea a try.

Wow, am I ever surprised.

Jan. 23
Instead of my morning starter coffee, I had Emperor’s Black Tea plus one cup of coffee. I was surprised that I liked it at all, but not convinced that I could give up my coffee for it. Later in the day I had the Green Tea. Hmmm……not so bad, I thought. And I loved the idea that I was drinking a healthy beverage.

Jan. 24
More Emperor’s Black and a cup of Green Mint. Now I was liking this and thinking “The best hot tea by far that I had ever had.”

Jan. 25
Unpacking a final suitcase from the show revealed the Chocolate and Magnolia Teas. I tried the Chocolate and found it quite pleasant….not too strong or sweet. It was just right.

Jan. 26-Feb. 4
I have had them all multiple times. Green Mint and Chocolate are my favorites. Then Emperor’s, then Magnolia (I am just not much of a flower drinker).
I am truly amazed that I am enjoying these hot teas. You have definitely made a convert. I will probably not give up coffee for the rest of my life, but Puerh hot teas will make major inroads on the quantity of coffee I drink.

Feb 19
As of this morning at 6:23 AM, I am drinking a cup of Chocolate Puerh and have not had a cup of coffee in 10 days. Yes, a definite convert, who lost 3 lbs.

Jackie Slade from San Rafael, CA

2010-03-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

Name: Jackie Slade
Hometown: San Rafael, CA
Drink of Habit: Coffee

Dear Numi Tea people,

Today (Monday) is my first day of your 2 week challenge.
Last night I cleaned and put away my coffee maker. I felt it would be a symbolic gesture for the days to come. I then opened the box of teas I received on Friday. Thank you. I like the packaging very much. The information on each box is a nice touch and I actually read them. Not being a tea drinker this is a real challenge for me. As a child the only time I drank tea was when I was ill with a cold or flu, so I associated tea with sickness. I am glad to have this chance to associate tea with flavor and wellness. I started this morning with Emperor's Puerh and found it to be earthy and rich. It is about 4 pm and I usually have coffee about now, so I will try your Chocolate puerh and get back to you tomorrow with an update.

Later in the day I tried your Chocolate Puerh. Because I love cappuccino I made it with foamed milk and a dash of cinnamon on top. MMMmmm very good.

Tuesday: I was still used to getting up with one eye open while making coffee, but I had Emperor's Puerh and my day began very well indeed.

Wednesday: I was still missing the ritual of making coffee in the morning so I had Emperor's Puerh with steamed foamed milk and a dash of cinnamon on top. It works. In the afternoon around 4 o'clock I tried the Mint Puerh. It was delicious and gave me energy that lasted through out the day. After dinner I had Mint tea again with a brownie, now that was a delicious combination.

Thursday: AM; Chocolate Puerh was my new tea of choice. No steamed foamy milk and I liked it as well if not better. I'm starting to get it now.

Friday: Emperor's Puerh in the morning and through the day while doing boring accounting work.

Sat: Emperor's Puerh. in the morning. It helped with a little headache from the night before's wine in take... thank you very much.

Sunday: Mint tea accompanied my breakfast.

Monday: Magnolia for my morning tea.

Tuesday: Emperor's Puerh with Honey, not bad, I usually don't like honey.

Wednesday: Chocolate Puerh, I'm really liking that one a lot lately!

Thursday: Chocolate Puerh for my morning tea again. I like it.

Friday: The week is almost over, and no coffee!!! Emperor's Puerh to start my day. Had a bit of a rough day with traffic, getting lost, work it self was challenging. Back at my studio MINT PUERH calmed my nerves. Yeah!

Saturday: Magnolia for a late and lazy morning. Great to relax while watching the Olympics.

Sunday: Mint in the AM Will I drink coffee tomorrow???

Monday: Chocolate Puerh, now we're at 15 days! No coffee!

I did it! 14 days Plus 3!

Guess what? I don't feel like having a coffee at all, even after the challenge!!!

Tea has been coming into my life a lot lately. Of course at the Fancy Food Show where I met and learned about Numi Tea. Then after that I read 3 Cups of Tea. A wonderful book written about Greg Mortenson and his mission to build schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fighting terrorism with education instead of war is so much better! While reading about Mortenson's challenges I discovered that tea was a main part of life in most parts of the world. It is a social ritual to welcome a guest. It is a bonding tool to close business deals. TEA IS IMPORTANT !!!

I have now become a tea lover as well. Amazing. Never liked it much before. I now have my own tea rituals. Of course I like a hot cup of tea when I get up to face the day. Then a cup of Magnolia Puerh in the afternoon. After dinner Mint Puerh is awesome! especially if accompanied with a brownie or something sweet. I also found that when stress from work or life in general rears it's ugly head a cup of your Mint tea calms my nerves and I become less anxious. I have experimented over the past 2 weeks by adding steamed foamed milk or honey. But truthfully Numi teas stand on their own, all though variations are good sometimes and keeps things interesting.

Thank you Numi Tea People for making tea important to me too.

Rena Buchgraber - San Francisco, CA

2010-03-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

*Name: Rena Buchgraber
*Hometown: San Francisco, CA
*Fix beverage(s) of Choice: English Breakfast, Japanese Green Tea.

DAY 1
A little hesitant to give up my treasured cups(s) of English Breakfast, I start the day with some Chocolate Puerh. And find myself fully satisfied! It's a rich, smooth taste and it works well with the shot of milk I normally use. Not sure how I will do having this only for the next 2 weeks, but so far, so good.

DAY 3
I heard that people enjoy this tea without milk, so today I'm giving it a try with my morning cup of Chocolate Puerh. I am really surprised how good (and still rich and smooth) this tea is even without milk! It actually totally works for me and I can't quite believe it! Must be the cocoa in the tea...

DAY 4
To mix things up, I switch and try the Mint Puerh today. Not generally a big fan of mint tea in the morning, but when I would normally break my routine for some Japanese Green Tea, I thought I'd try the Green Puerh with Mint. And it really isn't too minty - and not bitter at all. Not my first choice for a morning cup but definitely good.

DAY 6
I have to admit, I'm really getting used to my Chocolate Puerh - and no milk - in the morning. It's like the tea equivalent of a mocha - mixing tea and hot chocolate - and really leaves me satisfied. And I love that it has less caffeine than regular tea. I've been feeling really good lately all day long, who knows, could be the Puerh?

DAY 8
I'm so used to it, I don't even think of it as a "challenge" at this point, I just love drinking Chocolate Puerh for breakfast - and sometimes a Mint Puerh in the afternoon. Actually had a good 'ole cup of English Breakfast yesterday afternoon - and it was a strangely disappointing experience because it somehow didn't do much for me anymore! What's happening here??

DAY 12
I have to admit I like variety. And some days I just want a matcha latte or a decaf latte or a chamomile tea. I'm really liking the Chocolate Puerh, and I think I will continue to drink it often - but committing to just one type of tea for the long term is a little too limiting for me.
I will spread the word, though about Puerh because I believe in its goodness - and I love the taste of the Chocolate Puerh!

Thanks for this taste experience and opportunity!

Rena Buchgraber
San Francisco

Jen Lemberger's 2 Weeks of Organic Puerh Tea

2010-02-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Name: Jen Lemberger
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Fix beverage of choice: Coffee

Day One:
I hate waking up. No, I take that back, I hate getting out of bed. I like to loll around in bed, go back to sleep, lounge, on a good day read some of a book. But I can't do that every day, let alone during the week when I have to go to work. So it was interesting to me that on this first day of my Numi Tea Challenge I woke up and remembered, hey, I should make myself a cup, and then ACTUALLY getting out of bed. This morning I was in the mood for a lighter cup of tea and so picked the Magnolia blend. With a glob of honey stirred in I let the tea seep while I finished getting ready. I am lucky enough to be able to walk to work and so I sipped my tea from my travel mug on the way there. Really, there could not have been a better compliment to a bright Santa Barbara morning than the freshness of such a well balanced cup of tea. We're off to a good start!

Day Four:
Today's cups of tea couldn't have been better. I keep a box or two of tea at work and mid-morning when I realized I was already phasing out (it was about 11am, seriously boring day to be zoning that early) I made myself a cup of the Chocolate blend to push my brain back in motion. I love the Chocolate blend, perfect hint of chocolate with a smooth finish. Definitely not like you are drinking candy, more like just enough of a hint to make you think of childhood. Anyways, had my cup of tea, pulled it back together and gracefully finished out the day.

Second cup of tea that day was uber needed after roller derby practice. Tea is one of my favorite things to have after a workout (particularly nice to have homemade iced tea waiting at home) and today was no different. Nothing like an invigorating cup of Mint Puerh to help keep that healthy feeling going even after the workout is done!

Day Six:
Crazy hard practice at roller derby today. Skills, track time, and then strength workout (imagine doing leg lifts with skates on, yeah, that's what we do). A rewarding cup of Chocolate Puerh couldn't have been more warranted afterward. I particularly liked the tea and calm head clearing feeling while stretching out. Nice. After cleaning up and then attending to some long delayed chores it was soooooo nap time. So nice on a Saturday to wake up in early evening from a good nap after a busy day and brew a nice quiet cup of tea. Picked myself the Magnolia blend for this occasion and savored the taste while watching the sunset from my kitchen window. Pretty close to perfect.

Day Nine:
I've begun to realize that I walk around my work at least half the time with a cup of water or tea in my hand, nice! Today's selection was the Emperor's (the best wake you up morning tea!) blend. It was great to get to the end of the work day and not be on the verge of crashing (as was wont to happen when I drank energy drinks)! Besides all that, what beats a hot comforting cup of tea on a day of pouring rain?

Day Eleven:
As the days go along I have to say it's really nice to look forward to a morning cup of tea and knowing I'll likely have another one at work or when I get home, but there will be no sugar overdoses or crash outs!

Day Fourteen:
Sundays are great lolly-gagging days (see Day One post if you need to be reminded), but after a week of crazy rain, this Sunday was the perfect day to get outside in the sun! So I did, and I brought my tea. Have you ever gone on a bike ride and filled one of your water bottles with tea? I recommend it. Particularly if you pick the Mint or Magnolia blends of Puerh. Water is superb (obviously), but there is just something great about that extra sensory kick the tea gives you. And it is ridiculously better for your health than any energy drink you could try. Did a 30 mile ride with periodic sips of tea kicking in along the way. And of course, the ever present tea after workout when I got home. Coming to the end of this 'experiment', but doesn't look like I'll be discontinuing my Puerh drinking anytime soon!

Thank You!

2010-02-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

It is great to hear from all of you who are taking the Puerh Challenge, and thank you for all of your kind notes, enthusiasm, and feedback on the Puerh Challenge. It sounds like it is a habit that will be going well beyond 2 weeks for many of you!

We are going to change the process of our postings a bit due to your feedback, as well as the overwhelming response we are getting from our online communitea'. So instead of posting individuals chapters day-by-day, you'll be reading the person's entire journal and their reflections on the ancient fermented healing tea. We'll be starting that tomorrow!

If you haven't taken the 2 Weeks Puerh Challenge, or are not famliar with it... please click here.

Respectfully yours
Numi Organic Tea

the Vanilla Queen's Blog: Taking the Challenge and reporting the history...

2010-02-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Patricia Rain, author of the Vanilla Queen's blog, is taking the Puerh challenge, and is writing in depth about her experience of Puerh...back up by some incredible facts of the history, health, and trade of this fine tea.

Please enjoy the the Vanilla Queen's blog for her thoughtful and thorough experience of Puerh.

Carlie Peterson - the end

2010-02-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

I know the saying, all good things must come to an end...but they weren't talking about tea.

My "two weeks to make a habit" have made an addict out of me. So, even though my boxes are empty...I have found a way to keep the fantastic tea flowing.

I was in the super market the other day and I found a brick version of the original Numi puerh. Which is the traditional way it's served in China...it was even used as currency!

So, of course, I had to get some. And, now, it's my perfect travel companion. Shaped like a chocolate bar, little squares of tea break off and one square can brew a whole pot.

Which, of course, I've now acquired for work...so I can brew whole pots instead of single cups.

This is one habit, I don't plan on breaking anytime soon. :)

Carlie Peterson - (Tea Meal!)

2010-02-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I've never thought of this before...

But, I had a tea-piphany the other day and realized that I can do more to enjoy the puerh than just drink the tea.

I have come up with two morning recipes that are quick, easy, and tea-licious...

I used oatmeal...but you can substitute gritz, cream of wheat, or whatever hot cereal your prefer to see in your bowl.

There are two versions a fruity and a hearty...let's start with the light and fruity.

First, brew a cup of Numi Magnolia Puerh then pur it over a bowl of dry oatmeal, and add fruit of your choice and swirl in a little agave nectar if you like your mornings a little sweeter.
It's that easy. You immediately get a meal that tastes fancier, and more complex than your typical oatmeal...a great way to start the morning.

*** Here's a tip too...if you're out of fresh fruit, any jam makes a wonderful addition. I'm a fan of blackberry and apricot for this particular tea paring.

Now, onto the heartier meal. Again, I started with a cup of freshly brewed Numi Original Puerh, poured it over dry oatmeal and added some vegan brown sugar and flax seeds for sweetness and crunch. Your oatmeal will turn out darker...and delicious-er than normal. :)

*** Another tip…when fall comes around, I like to add some vegan pumpkin butter to this recipe to get the feel of the season. (And, mostly because I like to add it to everything.

I’ve included pictures of the latter, because that’s what I had for breakfast this morning.

Enjoy!

Carlie Peterson - Day 5 (Puerh Tea Cupcakes!)

2010-02-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

I have gone cooking crazy! I love finding new lings to add this Numi puerh to!
And, I've found the BEST way to "cook" tea...is to bake it into a vegan cupcake. :)

I found a recipe for "iced tea cupcakes" and decided to modify it into a vegan, puerh version.

For the cupcakes you will need:
• 1 cup soy milk
• 6 chocolate puerh teabags
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy yogurt
• 3/4 cup granulated vegan sugar (or agave if you know the 1 to 2/3 conversion ratio)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tsp grated vegan chocolate
• 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour***
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

***These are very moist cakes. Not fall-apart moist, but they stay squishy for a long time. If you want something firmer increase this measurement to 1 1/2 cups of flour.

Then you:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line tin with cupcake liners. In a small saucepan heat soymilk till almost boiling, add tea bags, cover and remove from heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. When ready to use stir teabags and thoroughly squeeze to insure as much tea is dissolved in milk as possible.
In a large bowl whisk together oil, yogurt, sugar, vanilla, grated vegan chocolate, and tea mixture until all yogurt lumps disappear. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix until large lumps disappear; some small lumps are okay.
Fill tins halfway and bake about 20 to 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Everyone loves cupcakes! And, while I don't eat mine with frosting ('cause I'm weird like that.) My partner says tha tthe whole point of a cupcake IS the frosting. That the cake is really just a vehicle for the high dose of sugary goodness. So, with that in mind. Here's the recipe for the chocolate puerh frosting:

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 Tbs of leftover chocolate puerh tea
• 2 tsp grated vegan chocolate (for decorating the top)
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

Then you:
In a small bowl, cream the margarine. Add the sugar in 1/2 cup additions. After each addition add a splash of chocolate puerh tea and beat well. Add the vanilla and beat until smooth, creamy and fluffy. I stuck cut-off straws in some of these and topped the rest with the grated chocolate.

I don't have an pictures of the results because the cupcakes got eaten as they were iced and put on a plate...actulally, I'm not sure if they even made it to a plate.

But, that's a good sign, right? :)

Carlie Peterson - Day 3

2010-02-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

To combat this ridiculous weather, I'm watching Pan’s Labyrinth and drinking the "Chocolate Puerh." It's delicious! I'm reminded of the freak snow-days we would get in my hometown of Atascadero, CA. We would call off school (because sophomores in high school have that kind of authority) and run home to rink cocoa and make soggy snow angels.

This chocolate tea is a grown-up cup of cocoa and I can't get enough of it. It's lighter than an actual cup of hot chocolate (which always felt very heavy and too filling for my taste). I never would have though to combine chocolate and tea in such an inventive manner.

So, the creative minds at Numi have inspired me to be a little creative myself. I'm going to make some vegan chocolate puerh cupcakes!

I’m going to take lots of pictures of my upcoming experiment and I’ll be sure to keep you informed on every delicious detail!

Carlie Peterson - Day 1

2010-02-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

Carlie Peterson
Hometown: Oakland, CA
"Fix" beverage of choice: Energy Drinks.

They say it takes two weeks to make a habit. But, how long does it take to fall in love?

I've heard the old adage, "Love at first sight," and with Numi tea, I understand why.

This morning, I found a package on my desk from Numi. I unboxed it as though it were my birthday; excitedly tearing the wrapping. Inside I found three lovely boxes of puerh waiting for me to sample.

Let the grand experiment begin!

As a computer programmer, my field lends itself to being highly caffeinated MOST of the day. I have my usual favorites in the beverage world: coffee, soda, energy drinks that keep me coding all day long. However, when I get the chance to vary my beverage choices I am truly elated at the opportunity. When things like get monotonous, it's wonderful to have something there to liven the line of code. :)

I found an "Emperor's Puerh," "Magnolia Puerh" and even a "Chocolate Puerh" inside the box that Numi sent me. While they're all exciting and I can't wait to try each one, I think I'm going to start off with an "Emperor's Puerh" (And, save the chocolate for later!)

OOH, and I think I made the right choice. I just opened the box and the inside flap says that, "Emperor's Puerh is a great way to start the morning." Win!

I should probably mention that I'm also a voracious reader. So, I love the Numi packaging for these boxes. There's so much to read on every side of the box: the history of puerh tea, "secrets" about the tea, and company information about Numi's green efforts. It's all very interesting and informative.

My first tastes:

The Emperor's Puerh seems much like a light black tea with hints of malt. It's not heavy or acidic like coffee.

I like it, we'll see how many cups I drink throughout the day to keep me wired.

Still time for 25% off two weeks worth of Puerh

2010-01-27T12:46:00.001-08:00

We hope you enjoyed hearing about Emily's 2 weeks of Puerh, and it sounds like she has moved on from coffee.

If you would are inspired to take the 2 Weeks of Puerh Challenge, you have time to enjoy 25% off of 2 boxes of any of Numi's Organic Puerh Tea blends. Just enter the code "2Weeks" at checkout at NumiTea.com.

Offer expires 1/31/2010.

Kind regards.
Numi Organic Tea

Emily Davis - Day 14

2010-01-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

6:00am – I’m up early, kettle is on and I’m looking forward to a quiet Sunday morning, made perfect with a cup of Emperor’s Puerh, warm and comforting on a cool foggy morning.

Emily Davis - Day 13

2010-01-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

8:00am – Puerh is the perfect replacement for coffee. I like my morning beverage to have some substance. Puerh has plenty of depth and gratifying aroma without the bitterness and acidity of coffee, I think I’m in love :)

Emily Davis - Day 12

2010-01-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

7:00am – Wake up! It’s been a long week, I decide to try a new brew, 1 bag of Emperor’s with 1 bag of Chocolate Puerh, mmmm delicious! The Chocolate is very subtle and the Emperor’s deep earthy malted flavor makes this a very warming and satisfying morning cup.

4:00pm – Busy day! I’m ready for a cup of Magnolia Puerh. This tea is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up; the fresh green scent and bright flavor revitalizes my senses and re-engages me with my day.

6:00pm – I’m off to walk the lake. I look forward to getting outside, stretching my legs and continuing the healthy habits I’ve formed these past 2 weeks.

Emily Davis - Day 11

2010-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

7:00am – It is such a pleasure to wake up now, knowing that I have a delicious and healthy beverage to start my day with. I’m really fond of waking up with Emperor’s Puerh. There is something seductive in its rich, earthy flavor and fragrance, I feel as though I’m nourishing my whole body and that feeling lasts throughout the entire day.

4:00pm – Tea Time! I can’t resist and I feel good about having a cup of Chocolate Puerh instead of a processed and refined sugar snack, there really is no contest. The Chocolate Puerh is so velvety smooth and satisfying I don’t crave anything else, it’s perfect!

Emily Davis - Day 10

2010-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

7:00am – It’s going to be a busy day! I’m looking forward to my morning Puerh, it’s a fabulous way to wake up. This morning it’s going to be the Chocolate Puerh, I need something unusual to keep my senses engaged today. I’ve never had anything like Chocolate Puerh, it’s amazingly chocolaty, but not cloyingly sweet. The ingredients say there is rooibos and orange peel in it and I think that’s what gives it balance.

10:00am –My cup of Puerh this morning is a distant memory, I declare it tea time! I’m opting for my old favorite Magnolia Puerh, I’m enchanted with this blend, its quiet floral depth is full of flavor, but layered so that every sip is a surprise.

6:00pm – I’m off on my walk, even without a 4 o’clock caffeinated pick me up I feel energized and excited about getting out and walking away any residual stress from the day.

Emily Davis - Day 9

2010-01-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

7:00am – Oh Happiness! My good friend Alexa brought me a selection of Puerh to try. I’m going to start this morning with Emperors Puerh, this is the unadulterated stuff, simply the purest Puerh. The rich color reminds me of coffee, but that’s where the similarity ends. I was almost surprised at the smooth flavor, completely in contrast to the deep dark color. It’s mildly malted flavor brings a boldness to an otherwise easy to drink black tea, this may be my favorite so far!

Emily Davis - Day 8

2010-01-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

7:00am – Start the kettle, oops! I’m out of Puerh, what a disappointment! Ah well, start my day with herbal tea instead of running for coffee.

5:30pm – I’m off on my walk, feeling good and energetic even without caffeine today.

Motivated? Inspired?

2010-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

Are you inspired to give the ancient fermented healing tea a chance?

Click here to learn how you can take the 2 Weeks of Puerh Challenge, and earn a chance for FREE Organic Puerh Tea from Numi.

Emily Davis - Day 7

2010-01-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

7:00am – Start the kettle, steep the Puerh, ah yes, perfect! I’m fairly convinced that my coffee addiction is over. I feel so much better about drinking a few cups of Puerh a day than I ever did about drinking the equivalent amount of coffee. I always liked the taste of coffee just fine, in ice cream in particular … but starting out with Puerh just brings a whole new meaning to “morning brew”, the layers of flavor are full and deep without being acidic or bitter, and then hiding in the background are the floral and green notes just waiting to surprise you. Hmmm, I bet Magnolia Puerh would make a great ice cream flavor!

Emily Davis - Day 6

2010-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

8:00am – No rush, it’s Saturday! I decided to sit out on the balcony, enjoy the sun and my cup of Magnolia Puerh, beautiful!

Emily Davis - Day 5

2010-01-08T15:16:00.000-08:00

7:00am – I didn’t think I was going to make it the first week with no coffee, here I am on day 5 feeling healthier and less stressed out. My morning cup of Puerh goes down smooth, no bitterness, the flavor is far more complex than coffee. I’m only just starting to taste and recognize some of the flavors, like the subtle green-ness that comes through in the Magnolia Puerh.

5:00pm – I should be off on my 5 mile walk, but I’m a little hungry, better to fortify before I head out. Perfect excuse for a cup of tea!

Emily Davis - Day 4

2010-01-07T16:12:00.000-08:00

7:00am – Tea Time! I look forward to making my morning cup of Puerh now, it wakes me up the way coffee never did. I find that instead of buzzing out the door, half distracted, the way I did every morning after drinking coffee, I’m alert and awake and quietly ready for my day.

4:00pm – Yay! Tea Time again! I love the virtual vacation I go on every time I drink a cup of Puerh, I can imagine where the ancient tea trees are growing and the long journey they make to my cup. I’m happy to know that Numi is organically minded and maintains sustainable business practices.

Emily Davis - Day 3

2010-01-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

7:00am – We won trivia night! I wouldn’t call it cheating, but I secretly believe all the antioxidants in the Magnolia Puerh made my brain work better, or maybe it was the fact that I’m not on the rollercoaster of coffee highs and lows. Whatever the case, I’m really happy with feeling that I can relax and enjoy a cup of Magnolia Puerh and that I am putting something good and healthy into my body.

9:00am – Missed my usual second cup of tea and only realized it when I noticed that my head is clear and I feel alert and there is still no caffeine withdrawal headache. I know I’ve already said it a number of times, but if you’ve ever suffered through caffeine withdrawal you’ll understand why that was my biggest fear in taking up this challenge. I think instead that there is just the right amount of caffeine in the Magnolia Puerh. It’s not inhibiting my appetite which makes it easier to eat regularly and keep my metabolism steady, all of which is contributing to an increase in energy and alertness.

5:30pm – I’m off on my 5 mile walk. It’s amazing to me that I feel so energetic and motivated at the end of the day. I haven’t had any coffee so far this week so I expected a drop in motivation, but instead I feel even more motivated knowing I’m doing something good for my body.

Emily Davis - Day 2

2010-01-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

7:00am – Start the day again with kettle on the stove, tea in and steep. I love this stuff. I’ve never had tea that was so smooth! It makes my mouth happy. Every sip is a surprise and delight, there’s no bitter after taste even if I leave the bag steeping longer than normal, and it just gets better and better!

8:00am – Arrive at the office, make another cup of tea, I can’t resist. Great thing about ditching coffee for tea is that I’m not experiencing the shakiness or irritability I often feel from indulging in too much coffee, also still no coffee withdrawal headache, which is miraculous.

4:00pm – It’s tea time! I’m going to a trivia game tonight so I want to be on point, so far I’m feeling good and alert. I love not having to put any dairy in my tea, this is great!

Emily Davis - Day 1

2010-01-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

We are excited to begin 2010 with the first Puerh Challenger who kicked aside coffee and dove into the ancient secret for 2 weeks. Please see what Emily Davis of our hometown of Oakland California had to say about Numi Organic Puerh Tea.
Respectfully yours Numi Organic Tea.

Name: Emily Davis
Hometown: Oakland California
Typical drink of habit: Coffee

Day 1

7:00am - Started this morning with kettle on the stove instead of coffee brewing. Cream or no? I typically put cream in my coffee or black teas, but I decide to take the unadulterated route this morning. Taste is earthier than the usual floral notes of English breakfast, but lacks the bitterness of the teas I’m familiar with so there’s no need to dilute it with cream or sugar.

8:30am – Arrive at the office and get ready for Puerh bag #2, trying to stave off the inevitable coffee withdrawal headache.

1:00pm - Was getting ready to go prepare my 3d bag of tea for the day when I realized that I don’t have a coffee withdrawal headache! Other great news is that I haven’t crashed the way I normally do after filling up on coffee in the morning.

5:30pm – Plenty of energy, feeling good, I’m off to start my 5 mile walk.

Take the 2 Weeks of Puerh Challenge

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Puerh (pū-ĕr) is an ancient healing tea known for its medicinal properties and rich taste. Chinese culture purports that Puerh aids digestion, breaks down fat, and rejuvenates life energy.

Rather than tell you about the wonders of Puerh, we would like to hear your personal reflections and how the ancient healer affects you. We challenge you to replace your daily “fix” beverage of choice (coffee, soda, energy drinks) with any of Numi’s Organic Puerh flavors for two weeks.

If you take The Puerh challenge, and we post your personal reflections online, Numi will send you two more weeks of worth Puerh! We believe you’ll feel compelled to replace your coffee and soda routine all together.

How to:

Step 1: Purchase enough boxes of Numi Organic Puerh from your local natural specialty grocery store or at NumiTea.com to satisfy your needs for two weeks.

Step 2: When you have your supply of Numi Organic Puerh Tea put your coffee, soda, energy drink aside and begin enjoying Puerh.

Step 3: Throughout the two weeks we would appreciate that you compile a short written or video journal with the date and time identified. We want to hear how your 2 weeks of Puerh is going, and how the ancient secret tea makes you feel.

Step 4: Compile all of your entries and send a minimum of 2 written and/or video entries along with your photograph to 2Weeks@numitea.com. Please include the date with each of your journal entries as well as your shipping address. If we feature your story on this blog, we’ll send you 2 more boxes of organic Puerh for your next 2 weeks!

Take the journey, discover the secret.

You can also read what others have to say about their 2 weeks with Puerh on this blog.

Your friends at Numi Organic Tea

What's the Skinny on Puerh?

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HISTORY
Puerh’s ancient history began over 2,000 years ago when tea was transported by horse caravans along 5 main routes known as the “Tea Horse Roads.” Merchants piled the tea to maximize their load when traveling across China and found that the tea tasted better at journey’s end and yielded additional health benefits.

WHAT IS PUERH?
There are white, green, oolong & black teas. Then there is Puerh. Numi’s Organic Puerh comes from 500-year-old wild tea trees grown in China’s pristine Yunnan Mountains. Unlike traditional teas that are oxidized over an 8 hour period, Puerh undergoes a unique 60-day fermentation process resulting in a bold, earthy flavor with hints of malt. It is said the Last Emperor’s mother, known as the ‘Beautiful Countenance’, cured her gout by drinking Puerh. In Chinese culture, Puerh is part of a bride’s dowry due to its great worth.

HEALTH BENEFITS YOU MAY NOTICE
Puerh's fermentation process results in more antioxidants than green tea! Puerh is also purported in Chinese culture to aid digestion, break down fat and rejuvenate life energy. Puerh can be compressed into bricks and aged, like fine wine, for months, years or even decades. This increases its value, health benefits and premium taste.

We encourage everyone to give Puerh a chance. Take the two weeks challenge.