February Birth Tea
Birth Tea
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea is a post-fermented tea originating from Yunnan Province, China, with a long history dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Through a unique production method that stops the tea leaves' oxidation enzymes with heat and then ferments them using microbial power, it creates deep flavors and health benefits unlike any other tea. Raw tea slowly matures over years to decades through natural fermentation, while ripe tea develops its distinctive flavor in a short time through an artificial fermentation technique called wo dui. Components such as gallic acid and polymerized catechins born during fermentation bring fat breakdown and detoxification effects, and its nature of continuing to change over time like a living thing deeply resonates with February's transformative energy during the transition from severe winter to spring.
Features
- The only tea that deepens in flavor over time through post-fermentation by microorganisms
- Available in two types - raw and ripe tea - each with different fermentation processes and flavors
- Powerful fat breakdown and detoxification effects from gallic acid and polymerized catechins
- A warming tea that improves cold constitution and promotes blood circulation
- A tea with timeless value, including vintage varieties aged over 100 years
Personality
- A patient personality like a practitioner who polishes themselves over time
- A philosophical temperament that values inner depth and complexity over superficial brilliance
- An alchemist's spirit that doesn't fear change but finds true value through transformation
- An innovative conservative who respects the old while continuously pursuing new possibilities
- The dignity of a sage who quietly but surely purifies surroundings and brings harmony
Symbolic Meaning
- A symbol of life's maturation and growth, increasing in value with the passage of time
- An embodiment of spiritual discipline that purifies inner impurities and polishes essence
- The power of transformation that sublimes into a higher existence through harsh conditions (fermentation)
- A role as a bridge of time connecting past (raw tea) and future (ripe tea)
- Inner wisdom that pursues deep richness rather than superficial beauty
Reason for Selection
- The tradition of warding off evil spirits during February's Setsubun perfectly corresponds with Pu-erh tea's detox effects
- Preparation needed during the transition from severe winter to spring - expelling old energy and welcoming new energy
- The fermentation process of change deeply resonates with February's transformative energy
- Its warming nature that heats the body and provides vitality from within during the coldest period
- The tea's nature that teaches the importance of long-term vision and patience during the time of making yearly plans
Protection & Effects
- Guards the flow of pure life energy by expelling toxins and waste from the body
- Protects the spirit from excessive material attachment through fat breakdown effects
- Protects mental stability through gut health, known as the second brain, by improving intestinal environment
- Guards against cold and stagnation that hinder life force circulation by improving blood flow
- Protects the soul from negative external influences through inner strength built over time
Trials & Growth
- The long maturation period requiring patience is a trial for modern people seeking instant gratification
- The process of getting used to its unique flavor is a trial of flexibility in accepting new values
- Temporary discomfort during detox is a rite of passage to true purification
- A trial of aesthetic sense to find inner value rather than superficial beauty
- Living with continuously changing flavors is a spiritual challenge of accepting impermanence