Qingpi (Green Peel): The fruit peel is not yet fully colored, appearing greenish-brown oreven bluish-black. The oil cavities are slightly concave and relatively dense, with hard but thin skin. Chenpi appears greenish-brown to greenish-black, with numerous slightlyconcave oil cavities, and a tight, smooth inner surface that ranges from snow-white to pale yellow-white or reddish-brown. It has a hard texture and a bitter taste with a fragrant aroma.
Oil cavity comparison: Qingpi has densely distributed and very translucent oil cavities.
How to brew Chenpi Tea for the best flavor:
Chenpi Tea has high health benefits, and many people enjoy brewing it to take care of their well-being. However, it’s essential to follow the correct brewing method for Chenpi Tea, considering the ratio of Chenpi to water and the water temperature. Below, we will introduce how to brew Chenpi Tea properly.
How to Brew Tasty Chenpi Tea:
First, you need to choose suitable Chenpi. Keep in mind that Chenpi is not just dried orange peel; it needs to be stored properly for at least three years to allow the nutritional components to oxidize gradually, enhancing its health benefits. Generally, Chenpi that is aged five years or more is the most suitable for making tea.
Next, start by boiling water in a teapot. It’s best to use spring water for boiling. If you don’t have access to spring water, you can use mineral water or purified water. Avoid using tap water, as it contains various elements that can affect the taste of the tea. Once the water is boiling, you can begin the tea brewing process.
Take an appropriate amount of Chenpi and place it in a teacup. Pour a small amount of boiling water over the Chenpi and let it soak for about half a minute. Then, pour out the water to wash away any impurities from the Chenpi, ensuring a cleaner and healthier tea. Pour more boiling water over the Chenpi and let it steep for about two minutes. Take a moment to enjoy the fragrant aroma of the Chenpi tea before sipping it slowly.
Alternatively, you can use Chenpi to cook tea. Generally, one complete segment of Chenpi and 250 milliliters of water are sufficient. The weight of a complete segment of Chenpi is approximately five grams. Rinse the Chenpi with clean water, then put it in cold water and boil it. After boiling, let it simmer for about five minutes without immediately opening the lid. Then, you can pour the Chenpi tea and enjoy.
When brewing Chenpi Tea, it’s essential to filter out the tea promptly and avoid letting the tea steep for too long to prevent the tea from becoming overly bitter and astringent.
Can Chenpi and Old White Tea be brewed together? 7 benefits of Old White Tea + Chenpi!
White tea is known for its cooling properties, heat-reducing effects, and detoxifying properties. Chenpi is considered by Traditional Chinese Medicine to belong to the Lung and Spleen meridians, helping to regulate Qi, strengthen the stomach, and resolve dampness and phlegm. Modern scientific research has found that white tea has the lowest free radical content and the highest content of flavonoids and amino acids compared to other types of tea. From the perspective of the Five Elements theory, white tea belongs to the Metal element, which aligns with the Lung meridian that Chenpi is associated with, making them an excellent pairing.
Chenpi has been used in both culinary and medicinal practices since the Song Dynasty. Medicinally, it is known for its ability to regulate Qi, strengthen the stomach, resolve dampness, and dispel phlegm. It is often used to treat indigestion, liver Qi stagnation, and phlegm-dampness accumulation. Chenpi is also used in cooking, such as in Cantonese cuisine for seasoning, soups, stews, desserts, and porridge, where it helps to remove fishy odors, enhance flavors, and add aroma.
Old White Tea is a treasure among the six major types of tea. In the local Fuding area, it is often used to cool and clear heat, detoxify, and treat illnesses. Since its fame, white tea has been loved and favored by many health-conscious individuals, especially Old White Tea, which is highly sought after. Many tea enthusiasts regard white tea as a daily health beverage suitable for all seasons.
7 Benefits and Effects of Old White Tea + Chenpi:
Prevents and treats colds: If you catch a cold in winter, brewing a pot of Old White Tea can make you slightly sweat in just a few minutes. Remember to drink it while it’s hot; it works even better than taking cold medicine.
Relieves cold hands and feet: For those who often have cold hands and feet, instead of using hand warmers, brewing a pot of Old White Tea every day can keep you warm all day and relieve the discomfort of cold extremities.
Alleviates coughs due to wind-cold: Old White Tea nourishes Yin and moistens dryness, making it effective for relieving coughs caused by wind-cold. When combined with Chenpi, it not only dispels wind-cold but also soothes the throat and transforms phlegm, helping with dry coughs without phlegm.
Warms the stomach and stops diarrhea: Drinking Old White Tea can help stop diarrhea, and when combined with Chenpi, it warms the intestines and stops diarrhea, effectively improving persistent diarrhea and dysentery caused by cold in winter.
Lightens dark spots: Old White Tea and Chenpi can inhibit facial melanin production and, when consumed regularly, can have an anti-wrinkle and anti-aging effect.
Relieves throat inflammation: In winter, it’s easy to suffer from throat inflammation due to colds. Brewing a pot of Old White Tea + Chenpi can not only alleviate throat discomfort and eliminate throat inflammation but also help with asthma and transform phlegm.
Prevents arteriosclerosis: In cold weather, arteries are more susceptible to hardening. Drinking Old White Tea with Chenpi can effectively reduce cholesterol levels in the body and prevent arteriosclerosis caused by cold weather.
The combination of “Tea + Chenpi” is a beautiful encounter between Old White Tea and aged Chenpi. They complement each other, with the mellow tea aroma combining with the refreshing scent of Chenpi, creating a delightful and refreshing taste. The sweet and mellow taste of the tea intertwines with the bittersweet taste of Chenpi, resulting in a smooth and refreshing flavor, leaving a sweet aftertaste and refreshing sensation on the palate.