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How to Determine the Age of Pu’er Tea
Pu'er tea has storage value mainly because it becomes more fragrant over time through natural transformation. For teas from the same mountain, the older the vintage, the higher the price. This has led to one of the chaotic phenomena in the tea market—age fraud. However, in reality, for a Pu'er tea that has been stored for many years, it is very difficult to determine the specific storage time by blind tasting; only an estimate can be made. This is because the moisture content of the dry tea at the time of production, the storage environment (dryness/humidity, temperature, light), etc., can cause varying degrees of transformation differences in the same cake of tea, with the differences becoming more pronounced over time. This is the change that time brings to the tea, and also the pleasure of storing tea. So, how do we determine the age of a tea cake? Criteria for Determining the Age of Pu'er Tea First, color: The clearer and more transparent the tea liquor, the older the vintage. Clear transparency refers not to the depth of the tea liquor but rather to a slightly oily luster. Second, taste: Considering the overall balance of taste, excluding storage issues, the… -
Purple Clay Teapots: Still Confused About Half-Handmade vs Fully Handmade?
Many teapot enthusiasts snub half-handmade teapots and are eager to acquire fully handmade ones. But what are the actual differences between these two crafting methods? Differences Between Fully Handmade and Half-Handmade (1) Firstly, from a craft perspective: Half-Handmade: These teapots still involve manual work. Simply put: First type: The spout, handle, and lid are handcrafted while the body is made using a mold. Second type: The body is handmade while other parts are made with molds. Third type: The entire teapot is formed using molds, so half-handmade teapots can also be called mold-made teapots. Fully Handmade: This involves using tools without molds to create a teapot, making the process more challenging and time-consuming. (2) Half-Handmade Teapots Cannot Be Mass Replicated Indefinitely Some enthusiasts worry that half-handmade teapots can be endlessly replicated using molds. In reality, half-handmade teapots still contain the maker's creativity and are unique. For example, the Ti Bi Teapot by Gu Jingzhou and the Curved Teapot by Wang Yinxian both use molds for shaping. Even contemporary masters or senior artisans cannot achieve the same effect when using the same molds. Some teapots, especially those with intricate designs, cannot be crafted without molds. (3) From a Practical and Collectible…- 2
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Ji’an Suichuan: In the Mist of Tea
Mom's younger sister is middle-aged now, her thick black hair streaked with silver. Her voice, when calling out to her children, is strong and powerful, tinged with the wear and tear of time. Grandma, smiling warmly, like many other women who pick tea, has long since melded into the tea mountains. That tea affair, that long-haired girl drinking tea, who would remember any of it? It only appears in my mind, transformed and shifting, that smile like a spring breeze through the forest. The tea-picking aunt is elderly now, suffering from rheumatism, her hands shaking as she walks alone around the house. Grandpa, who used to make tea, is skin and bones; he no longer has the strength to stand by the large iron wok and stir-fry a pot of handmade tea for his children and grandchildren, much less go out to attend a tea event. This man who loved socializing and kept up appearances, after a serious illness, his face turned the color of tea. He gasped for breath and waved his hand, unwilling to eat meals at the same table as his children and grandchildren. Sometimes, getting out of bed required Dad's help. He took the food cooked… -
Which is Better for Brewing Tea: Iron Kettle, Purple Clay Pot, Glass Pot, or Silver Kettle?
When purchasing a purple clay pot, enthusiasts usually fear two things the most: first, buying a fake purple clay pot, and second, buying one made with chemical additives. So how do you choose a good purple clay pot? Look at the Texture Pure purple clay pots have a restrained luster, a texture like warm jade, a stable color, and an aged appearance. With high-quality clay, you can see the effects of use within half a month. Pots made from clay with chemical additives show little change no matter how much they are used; they remain dry. Although they can create a so-called mung bean paste effect, the surface glaze (due to the addition of wood shaving water, also known as quartz water) prevents the tea water from being absorbed, and oils from handling cannot penetrate the surface. Thus, such pots will not develop a patina. Check the Water Absorption Genuine purple clay pots, except for red clay and some dun clay varieties, generally have strong water absorption properties. This is why it's often said that tea brewed in a purple clay pot tastes better than in other types of teapots. Pots made from clay with chemical additives typically lack water…- 3
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