Bug-free pu-erh?

[mlafranc]

Do any pu-erh vendors inspect their cakes to make sure they are bug-free before shipping them out?

I participated in the second pu-erh OTTI and might be interested in ordering some sheng from a good vendor. But I have read about finding bugs in pu-erh, and that would gross me out. I know that there are many folks for whom this is not a turn-off. But for me I think it would freak me out.

[wyardley]

I think it would be pretty rare to find live bugs in puer tea, though I have seen it a few times. But bugs are probably the least of your worries if you're squeamish about finding things in your tea.

And anyway, if you eat food products, you're probably eating bugs all the time.

[Catfur]

And anyway, if you eat food products, you're most assuredly eating bugs all the time.

Fixed it for you.

[heatwaves]

And anyway, if you eat food products, you're probably eating bugs all the time.

The average person is said to consume over 5 lbs of bugs a year through foods like bread, crackers/chips, peanut butter, etc. Yum.

[Chip]

Do any pu-erh vendors inspect their cakes to make sure they are bug-free before shipping them out?

I participated in the second pu-erh OTTI and might be interested in ordering some sheng from a good vendor. But I have read about finding bugs in pu-erh, and that would gross me out. I know that there are many folks for whom this is not a turn-off. But for me I think it would freak me out.

Well, I did not find any bugs in those sheng, but I did find several long black hairs, an odd piece of nonmagnetic corroded metal, and something that I have yet to figure out what it is.

The average person is said to consume over 5 lbs of bugs a year through foods like bread, crackers/chips, peanut butter, etc. Yum.

Andrew Zimmern eats that many bugs in a single sitting.

... not to mention spiders.

[mlafranc]

Ack! Too much information!

[Marco]

Do any pu-erh vendors inspect their cakes to make sure they are bug-free before shipping them out?

I participated in the second pu-erh OTTI and might be interested in ordering some sheng from a good vendor. But I have read about finding bugs in pu-erh, and that would gross me out. I know that there are many folks for whom this is not a turn-off. But for me I think it would freak me out.

A little protein in your tea - thats real umami

... an odd piece of nonmagnetic corroded metal....

Some teafolks use pots to get this extra-iron in their water

[Chip]

I've bought pu'er only from the highest sources and the worst that I've seen is a strand of hair and one piece of dried corn. Not that big of a deal. I have heard horror stories about people finding much worse in their pu'er. I would suggest being picky with pu'er...it really pays off! 99% of people that drink pu'er are consuming sub-par stuff that tastes murky, fishy, and like composting matter. Good pu'er should have many layers of complexity and feel clean and refreshing.

[Chip]

NGruber, please check your messages located near the top and center of TeaChat!!!

Chip
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