What are the health benefits of Pur-Erh Teas?

Pu-erh tea is often promoted as assisting in lowering cholesterol. Some studies have supported this use, and some have suggested that it can improve the heart. It is also reputed as a "diet" tea since there is evidence that it may change the body's metabolism, and/or help the body to digest fat and saturated oils.

Pur-erh tea, especially Sheng (raw) Pu-erh, can be aged, often for as long as 15 years.

Although there is evidence supprting the use of Pu-erh to lower cholesterol, there is also evidence that other teas, such as green tea, may have this effect as well, and it has not been exhaustively established that Pu-erh is uniformly healthier than other teas.