Pu-erh Tea

Those who love tea often keep a good stock at home, and many people store their teas in the refrigerator, or even buy a small fridge specifically for this purpose. In fact, this is a misconception. Whether tea should be stored in the fridge depends on the type of tea. Teas Suitable for Refrigeration:The types that benefit from refrigeration include green teas, lightly fragrant oolongs, and humidity-dried teas. Of the six major categories, green teas are the most prone to spoilage and require special attention when storing. You can place the tea in a sealed tin and then put it in a sealed bag before placing it in the fridge.Additionally, lightly fragrant Tieguanyin oolong and humidity-dried oolongs can also be stored in the fridge.Green teas, lightly fragrant oolongs, and humidity-dried teas are suitable for refrigeration. Teas Not Suitable for Refrigeration:Black teas, Pu'er teas, traditionally processed Tieguanyin, aged Tieguanyin, and white teas should not be refrigerated due to the importance of aging and transformation. Storing these teas in the fridge could lead to dampness issues and reduce the activity of biological enzymes within the leaves, affecting their transformation process. Jasmine-scented teas may lose their fragrance if stored in the fridge. However,…...

Pu'er tea is produced using two methods: artificial heap fermentation (ripe tea) and natural fermentation (raw tea). Artificial fermentation is a modern tea-making technique invented in Yunnan, involving the rapid fermentation of sun-dried green tea through heap fermentation, followed by steaming and pressing into solid shapes or left loose. Natural fermentation is a traditional method that involves steaming and pressing sun-dried green tea into solid shapes to preserve its aging potential. Pu'er Ripe Tea: Heap Fermentation Heap fermentation is a process used in making Pu'er ripe tea and is critical in determining the quality of the tea. A certain amount of sun-dried green tea is piled up to maintain a stable temperature within the pile, then the piled tea is moistened to initiate fermentation. The height of the heap can be adjusted as needed, usually reaching around one meter. As fermentation begins, the pile needs to be turned to manage temperature and fermentation conditions. Each master has their own judgment, but the core principle is to create an environment conducive to the activity of microorganisms in the tea while inhibiting the growth of unwanted bacteria, ensuring even and smooth fermentation. During turning, if moisture levels are insufficient, they need to…...

New ripe Pu'er tea, taking Menghai fermentation as an example, often carries some stack flavors and miscellaneous odors. After all, it spends several dozen days in the heap. However, after two years of storage, a new ripe Pu'er tea has largely lost its stack flavor, replaced instead by a hint of aged aroma (note that this is not the scent of agarwood). This aged aroma can be discerned from the adhesion on the cup. During the early stage of the tea, this fragrance is accompanied by a watery taste, making it indistinct. The thickness of good ripe tea is evident right from the start, but during its initial stages, it is still affected by the water vapor, making the texture less concentrated and somewhat bland. After about two years, the thickness is fully released, making it viscous and heavy on the tongue. The Depth of Quality in Ripe Pu'er Tea The sweetness in new ripe Pu'er tea isn’t very direct; in other words, there’s a straightforward sweetness, but the lingering sensation after swallowing isn’t prominent. If a ripe tea two or three years old doesn’t develop any sweetness, it means its potential for improvement is limited. Observing changes at different…...

Lincang, a treasure house of ancient tea trees, has seen the rise of the Mengku tea region in the past and the Ice Island (Bingdao) Old Village at the top in recent years. In recent years, many first-class famous villages such as Xigui and the Five Villages of Bingdao have emerged. Besides these, there are still many lesser-known but equally high-quality tea villages. In this feature article, Lu Li will introduce two rising stars - Nahan tea, the king of teas, and Mangfei tea from Yongde. The King of Teas: Nahan Tea Apart from Xigui, which can rival Bingdao, the most famous tea in Bangdong is Nahan. Nahan is located near Xigui, not far away, with similar taste and texture, but much more affordable prices. Many tea merchants sell Nahan tea under the guise of Xigui, making it difficult to distinguish between the two without a direct comparison. Therefore, it's worth learning more about this tea village. Nahan, also known as NaHan, is located in the eastern part of Lincang District, bordering Xiaoman Gang to the north and Manglu Mountain to the south. It belongs to the Manggang Village Committee of Bangdong Township. The entire village can be divided into…...

How to prevent tea from aging and deteriorating: Do well in preventing pressure, dampness, sealing, avoiding light, and preventing odor. Green tea is suitable for canning and sealed refrigeration; black tea needs to be stored in a tightly closed and dry container; Oolong tea can be stored at room temperature using double-lid cans such as iron or tin cans; white tea requires a well-sealed tin or iron can for storage; Pu'er tea should be stored with cotton paper in a normal temperature environment without any odor. How to Better Prevent Tea from Aging? 1. Control of moisture content in tea: The safe moisture limit for tea is below 5%. For coarse tea, if it undergoes one short-term high-temperature drying, it may not achieve complete and sufficient drying, so two-stage drying is more ideal. Freshly dried tea needs to cool down before being bagged, but this cooling time should not be too long to avoid re-moistening; after the coarse processing, picking out stems and dust, the tea must be dried again to ensure that the moisture content is less than 5%. 2. Avoid light exposure. Experiments have shown that light is the most intense and rapid factor leading to deterioration of…...

Puer Tea · Storage If starting to drink Puer tea and incorporating it as an essential part of daily drinking habits marks the beginning of understanding Puer tea, then with the deepening of our affection for Puer tea, we cannot avoid facing the issue of Puer tea storage. This is because the concept of "the older, the more fragrant" always tantalizes the hearts of tea enthusiasts, and the allure of aged teas in the legends of the Puer tea world is mysteriously enchanting. In the eyes of experienced tea expert Mr. Huang Gang, "Puer tea storage is the key to understanding Puer tea." This detailed long article aims to answer questions such as "What is the 'storage' of Puer tea? What is good 'storage'? For Puer tea enthusiasts, solving this problem can save them from taking many detours in their journey to understand Puer tea. How do we understand the "storage" of Puer tea? Puer tea is a post-fermented tea, and both raw and ripe teas go through a process of storage and aging after being pressed into shape (even if they are loose). Therefore, we can say that the "storage" of Puer tea is produced during the later stages…...

Pu'er tea has a shelf life of 10 to 20 years. Made from unique large-leaf varieties, Pu'er tea is categorized into raw and ripe types based on its processing method. Its thick and robust leaves are rich in flavor and have the potential for aging, hence there isn't a fixed expiration date. It is generally believed that Pu'er tea can be stored for 15 to 20 years. According to the national standard GBT22111-2008, under proper storage conditions, Pu'er tea can be preserved for an extended period. How does the national standard define the shelf life of Pu'er tea?From the definition of Pu'er tea itself: Pu'er tea is made from sun-dried tea leaves produced in specific regions of Yunnan, which undergo post-fermentation and can be processed as loose or compressed tea. Therefore, the national standard provides a guideline for the shelf life, stating that under the conditions specified in GBT22111-2008, Pu'er tea can be stored long-term. However, long-term storage ≠ permanent storageIn 1963, during the disposal of Qing dynasty tribute teas at the Forbidden City in Beijing, over two tons of aged teas were discovered, including some Pu'er teas. In Wang Yufeng's article "Pu'er Tea and the Qing Dynasty," he mentioned:…...

01Hong Kong Storage (HK)When it comes to Hong Kong storage, many Pu'er tea enthusiasts and merchants often equate it with damp storage. Damp storage refers to the aging process being somewhat out of control due to excessive humidity or light mold and spoilage. However, Hong Kong storage is simply a term and does not necessarily mean damp storage. The term only represents a concept of storage. Similarly, many tea enthusiasts in the north misunderstand Guangdong storage, assuming it has a storeroom flavor. It's important to emphasize that most of the high-priced old teas, including those from the mark-level and imprint-level categories, have been stored in Hong Kong. This has contributed a large number of quality aged teas. Decades of accumulated experience and techniques in storage have also created a unique quality of aged teas from Hong Kong storage that is difficult for other storages to replicate. This is very much worth learning from by Pu'er tea merchants. Early Hong Kong storage typically had two types: ground storage and dry storage. Ground storage was natural storage, building warehouses. It is said that when Hong Kong tea merchants built tea warehouses, they had specific requirements, choosing locations on the hillside facing southeast,…...

The Sun-Dried Green Maocha is crafted from fresh buds and leaves of the large-leaf tea variety in Yunnan, using a distinctive low-temperature production process. The quality of the raw material determines the upper limit of the final product's quality. The freshness of the leaves is influenced by the tea plant variety, the ecological standards of its growing environment, and the age of the tea plants, with the ecological environment being of paramount importance. The production process of Sun-Dried Green Maocha: 1. Picking: Completed in the morning when the mist disperses around 8 to 9 AM, with a slight dew, the fresh leaves picked at this time retain their tenderness. 2. Spreading Out: This step typically lasts between 6 to 8 hours, depending on the moisture content of the fresh leaves. The leaves partially lose water, becoming softer, and the stems lose their elasticity, preparing them for the next step and reducing damage. 3. Withering of Fresh Leaves: Spread thinly (3 to 5 cm) to naturally lose water. 4. Kill-green Step: Wok kill-green is a traditional method used in Yunnan tea regions. When the wok reaches a certain temperature, fresh leaves are added, focusing on keeping the leaf temperature below 60°C…...

For tea intended for consumption in the near future, it is recommended to store it in a sealed aluminum foil bag. Open the bag when you need to pry off some tea, and then return the remainder and reseal it. You can also choose glazed ceramic jars that do not allow air to pass through or well-sealed tin cans. As long as the seal is tight, it will prevent excessive oxidation. Some people are accustomed to storing loose tea in purple clay pots, but this may lead to excessive oxidation and diminish the flavor of the tea. When dealing with older teas with odd odors, young raw teas with prominent astringency, or teas that have suddenly developed an acidic taste—small issues like these can be addressed by placing the tea in a purple clay pot. The tea comes into contact with oxygen inside the purple clay pot, which helps to break down the substances causing the odd odors, astringency, or acidity. However, if left too long, the tea’s body will become dispersed and many active compounds will be lost. Therefore, it is not recommended to store Pu'er tea in a purple clay pot for long-term preservation. How Should Pu'er Tea…...

Previously, I often saw mentions of the term "uniform material inside and out" in Puer tea reviews. I thought that was what "pure material" meant. Later, I learned that "uniform material" and "pure material" are not the same thing.The term "uniform material" refers to using the same quality of material inside and outside a tea product. This is typically used to describe compressed Puer teas such as cakes, bricks, and tuos. In contrast to "uniform material," there is "top-dressing," where many merchants sprinkle a higher-grade tea on the surface of cakes or bricks to make them look better. The inner part of the tea may use a slightly lower grade of material. Of course, a top-dressed Puer tea doesn't necessarily mean it's of inferior quality; however, a "uniform material" tea will generally have a more consistent taste. As for the concept of "pure material," opinions vary widely within the industry, and there is no definitive definition yet. If we were to categorize the different schools of thought, they might fall into the following categories: 1. **Ancient Tree Tea School**. Any raw material sourced from ancient Puer tea trees, regardless of origin, batch, or season, is considered pure material. 2. **Village…...

Pu'er ripened tea has no expiration date and can be stored long-term. However, this does not mean that ripened Pu'er can be stored indefinitely; it is generally suitable for drinking after being stored for three to five years. In comparison, raw Pu'er tea requires around ten years of storage to reach its optimal drinking period. Ripened Pu'er has no expiration date—Pu'er ripened tea can be stored long-term without an expiration date, as long as it is kept under standard storage conditions, Pu'er tea can continue to be stored. How Long is the Expiration Date for Pu'er Ripened Tea? Yunnan Pu'er tea tends to improve with age, and its shelf life can extend from 10 to 20 years. Similarly, aged Wuyi rock tea often has a richer aroma and more robust flavor. Hunan's dark tea, Hubei's Fu brick tea, Guangxi's Liubao tea, and others will not spoil but rather improve in quality if stored properly. Generally, however, most teas are best when fresh. For example, green tea typically has a shelf life of about one year at room temperature. However, factors such as temperature, light, and humidity significantly impact the quality of tea. If stored correctly by mitigating or eliminating these…...