Kunming

First article: Representative Varieties and Three Aromatic Zones in the Yiwu Tea Area (click to read); Second article: Dongguan Warehouse, Kunming Warehouse, Hong Kong Warehouse, Flavors, White Frost, "Warehouse Manipulation" Issues (click to read); Third article: Storage Cycle Issues for Yiwu Green Bud Tea (click to read); Fourth article: Storing Puer, Pursue Famous Mountain Origins or Quality? Fifth article: Differences in Small Heap Fermentation, Large Heap Fermentation, and Tea Evolution Ripe Tea Techniques? The following is Part Four, focusing on storing Puer, pursuing famous mountain origins or quality? Shi Yun: I would like to express great appreciation for Teacher Li Yang's sharing. A young lady just now wanted to ask President Zheng and Teacher Li Yang about a conversion issue. Zhou Xin: Teacher, regarding storage, for example, Tianmen Mountain, does it mean that as long as its glycoside content is high, and the catechin and caffeine content is low, it suggests that it requires higher humidity? And Menghai tea, with higher catechin and caffeine content, has lower humidity requirements, only forming white frost when humidity exceeds 14%. This is the first time I've heard this, so I want to confirm if my understanding is correct. Zheng Shaohong: Indeed. For instance,…

When Pu'er Shengcha is aged for ten years and stored properly, it undergoes rich changes in taste, becoming more mellow with reduced bitterness and astringency turning into sweetness and smoothness. Its aroma may also transform. What are the Characteristics of Pu'er Shengcha Aged for 10 Years? This depends on where you store your tea. For example, if stored in Kunming, its surrounding areas, or northern regions like Beijing and Northeast China, the aroma of Pu'er tea aged for ten years will be very good, with high concentration. The later transformation of Pu'er tea in these places is relatively slow, so the bitterness and astringency decrease slowly, but the tea's energy remains very strong. If stored in regions like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, or Fujian, which have higher humidity and temperature, Pu'er tea aged for ten years will have a smoother and richer broth, but the aroma will be much weaker. Different storage locations bring out different characteristics, and it's not necessarily true that one is better than the other. Personally, I believe that the nature of Pu'er tea is best preserved in drier places, what we call dry-storage Pu'er, which can better reflect the personality of Pu'er tea. However, opinions may…

01. Tea Cake The tea cake is a common form of Pu'er tea, usually weighing 357 grams, commonly known as the Seven Sons Cake. 02. Tuo Tea It looks like a round bread from above and a thick-walled bowl from below, with a concave center, which is quite distinctive. Each weighs about 100 grams to 250 grams, varying in size. This shape was also made for ease of long-distance transportation and long-term storage in ancient times. 03. Brick Tea Brick tea, also known as steam-pressed tea, is one of the more representative types of compressed teas. Pu'er brick tea was once offered as tribute during the Qing Dynasty and remains a popular category of Pu'er tea. 04. Square Tea Pu'er square tea is produced by Kunming Tea Factory, using Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea of grades one and two as raw materials. The selection process is strict, ensuring a high degree of tenderness. It is finely screened, then steamed and pressed into a square block, measuring 10.1 cm on each side. Each piece weighs 250 grams and is considered a premium product among compressed teas. 05. Mini Tuo Tea Mini tuo is a type of tuo tea shaped like a…

In the eleventh year of Chongzhen (1638 AD), in May, Xu Xiake entered Yunnan from Guizhou, marking the final chapter of his life's travels. For him, perhaps the most memorable thing about Yunnan was the availability of excellent tea everywhere he went, "sufficient to console the traveler." In *Xu Xiake's Travel Notes*, he recorded over 80 tea-related events during his journey, nearly 60 of which took place in Yunnan. This reflects the popularity of tea drinking in Ming Dynasty Yunnan. Not long after his Yunnan travels, in the fourteenth year of Chongzhen (1641 AD), Xu Xiake passed away in his hometown Jiangyin. Three years later, Qing troops crossed the pass, and the Ming-Qing dynastic change began, with warfare quickly spreading to Yunnan. From the rebellion of the local chieftain Sha Dingzhou in the second year of Shunzhi (1645 AD) to the Qing forces' pacification of Yunnan in the first year of Kangxi (1662 AD), and finally the suppression of Wu Sangui's rebellion in the twentieth year of Kangxi (1681 AD), the continuous warfare for almost 40 years had long erased the prosperity of tea culture that Xu Xiake had described. It wasn't until the Qianlong era that Pu'er tea from…

Pu'er tea values its vintage, and many enthusiasts are passionate about collecting and drinking aged teas. When it comes to the vintage of Pu'er tea, storage is a natural topic of discussion. Besides raw materials and processing techniques, proper storage is crucial in determining the quality of Pu'er tea, ensuring it improves with age. Some tea merchants can establish professional facilities to store Pu'er tea, controlling factors such as humidity and temperature to ensure optimal aging conditions. However, for most merchants and enthusiasts, such professional storage is not feasible, and they must rely on natural conditions. Under these circumstances, the transformation and quality of Pu'er tea are largely determined by the natural climate. Natural storage of Pu'er tea essentially means dry storage. By "dry storage," we mean a clean and relatively dry environment. Cleanliness is the priority, with moderate dryness! The aging process of Pu'er tea requires both humidity and temperature. Extensive practice and scientific research have shown that the transformation of Pu'er tea involves enzymatic reactions and microbial fermentation, leading to changes in taste. Microorganisms, referred to as beneficial bacteria, play a key role in this transformation. These beneficial bacteria and enzymatic reactions thrive best at temperatures around 20°C…

Speaking of the Kunming warehouse, storing Pu'er raw tea for around twenty years is completely feasible. However, many teas are consumed before they reach that age, which leads to the notion that Pu'er tea does not have an expiration date. Compared to storage duration, I believe that the storage environment is the key point, as a good storage environment ensures proper transformation of Pu'er tea over time. Don’t waste your fine tea due to improper preservation. How Long is the Shelf Life of Pu'er Raw Tea?In the process of storing Pu'er tea, you should choose appropriate methods based on the specific conditions of the tea rather than simply focusing on the length of storage time.The aroma components in Pu'er raw tea mainly consist of alkenes, aromatic ring alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, phenols, heterocyclic compounds, lactones, hydrocarbons, etc. These components present different fragrances, so when tasting Pu'er tea, one often experiences various levels of fragrance, which are directly related to the raw materials used and the storage process. If the storage conditions are excellent, Pu'er tea can be preserved for at least 30-40 years, although its taste and health benefits will be significantly reduced.It's important to note that for storing Pu'er…

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,…

Pu'er tea, renowned for its characteristic of improving with age and thus being referred to as "drinkable antique," not only requires high-quality raw materials and a complete production process but also needs an appropriate storage environment. The natural post-fermentation of Pu'er tea involves many aspects, and storage conditions will directly impact the drinking quality of Pu'er tea, affecting its color, flavor, and aroma. Storing Pu'er tea is very particular. A high temperature and humid environment can easily cause mold. Therefore, when storing Pu'er tea, humidity should be controlled below 70%. Temperature should be maintained around 20°C-28°C. Avoid exposure to light and store in a sealed container. Raw and ripe teas should be stored separately. Nowadays, more and more people are drinking Pu'er tea. What kind of vessel should be used for storage? The answers vary widely. A popular saying is that "Jianshui purple clay pottery is a perfect match for Pu'er tea," but there was no scientific data to support this until now. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University - Jianshui Purple Clay Joint Research Center conducted research on the integrated development of Pu'er tea and Jianshui purple clay pottery. The research concluded that Jianshui purple clay pottery has the capability…

The principle of genuine dry storage has always been the cornerstone for those dealing in mid-aged and older Pu'er teas. Many new tea enthusiasts often ask: Is this tea genuine, and how do you authenticate it? Is this tea stored dry, and what is the overall storage condition like? How well has this tea aged, and does it have a good drinking value? Facts speak louder than words, and today we will take our fellow tea lovers through the entire process of collecting and inspecting tea storage from a first-person perspective. The weather was nice today, so I drove to the tea warehouse. Preparations before collecting tea. Today's collection site is located in a small town on the outskirts of Dongguan, one of my friend's family warehouses, storing around 500 tons of tea, valued conservatively at over 100 million RMB. Upon arrival at the warehouse, I didn't rush to notify my friend to enter and inspect the goods; instead, I walked around the entire warehouse to observe its overall environment. There are many points of observation, which I will detail now. Firstly, we need to know which floor of the building the tea warehouse is located. This consideration stems from…

Recently, there has been frequent rainfall in South China, posing a challenge for storing Pu'er tea. Proper handling can lead to better transformation of the tea, while improper handling can cause issues such as mold. Storage has become a challenge, as different regions have varying climates, so is there a difference in storage methods? Don't worry, after reading this article, you will find answers to these questions. The Four Factors Affecting Pu'er Tea Storage When the same Pu'er tea is stored in different environments, the final aged quality will vary. The four factors that significantly influence the quality of Pu'er tea storage are "temperature," "humidity," "light protection," and "air." These play the most significant role in the transformation process of Pu'er tea during storage. 1. Temperature: Temperature plays a crucial role in the transformation of Pu'er tea. Excessively high temperatures can cause the tea to develop off-flavors; in excessively low temperatures, the transformation process slows down or even stops. Therefore, a relatively suitable temperature is essential for storing Pu'er tea. The temperature for storing Pu'er tea should not be too high or too low, and it is recommended to maintain it around 25°C ± 3°C. 2. Humidity: Humidity is also…

At 19:30 on June 18th, the mini opera "Love of the Ancient Tea Tree," a project sponsored by the Yunnan Arts Fund for 2023's small-scale productions and works creation, premiered at the Art Practice Theater of the School of Music and Dance, Kunming University. Photos provided by the performance of "Love of the Ancient Tea Tree" According to the introduction, "Love of the Ancient Tea Tree" uses ancient tea trees as its entry point, adopts the form of a mini opera, and follows a timeline to tell a touching story about the relationship between humans and nature. It aims to introduce more people to Yunnan and its excellent culture shared among multiple ethnic groups. Group photo from the premiere of "Love of the Ancient Tea Tree" (photos provided) The mini opera "Love of the Ancient Tea Tree" tells the story of the Lahu, Bulang, Dai, Hani, and other ethnic groups living together in the lush southwest border region of China. They revere and respect nature, planting tea trees under natural forests, creating ancient tea forests that have thrived for thousands of years over vast areas. This story has been passed down for centuries and, in this new era, resonates with…

The aroma and taste of Pu'er tea after brewing are determined by the raw materials, processing techniques, and storage conditions. Due to different storage environments in various places, the same tea can develop completely different flavor profiles after a few years of aging. When selecting mid-aged and older teas, in addition to considering factors such as brand, price, and vintage, where the tea has been stored and aged is also very important. Many tea enthusiasts enjoy drinking Pu'er tea from the Kunming warehouse. What are the distinctive features of these teas? Kunming is located on the Yunnan plateau at a high altitude, with relatively small annual temperature fluctuations and a climate that is moderately warm and humid. These conditions make it very suitable for storing Pu'er tea. Compared to lower-altitude warehouses with higher temperatures and humidity, Pu'er tea stored in Kunming may undergo slower overall transformation, but it enjoys high recognition among tea enthusiasts and often commands better prices for the same vintage. Characteristics of Pu'er Tea Stored in the Kunming Warehouse First, Aroma: The aroma changes are relatively noticeable, often featuring honey-like notes, but undesirable aromas such as smoky, burnt, or moldy scents are more difficult to dissipate. Second,…

For the same tea, being stored in different places means facing different storage environments, which leads to differences in Puer tea collection between the north and south. When discussing with experienced tea enthusiasts, Kunlun found that sending the same tea to over 20 cities across the north and south resulted in variations in taste due to differences in storage conditions, humidity, temperature, and other factors. The difference in regional environments determines the methods for preserving Puer tea. So what are the characteristics of Puer tea storage in different regions? Storage can be divided into pure dry storage and natural storage. Natural storage involves keeping the tea in a natural environment on floors below the second level, without artificial processing. The tea undergoes natural transformation. The surface of the tea has a dull luster, and there is no dry aroma. The taste is not significantly different from pure dry storage. Pure dry storage involves keeping the tea in a professional tea warehouse above the second floor, where it naturally ferments under constant temperature and humidity. The surface of the tea has an oily sheen, and the tea has a fragrant aroma. The taste is rich and smooth, with a noticeable aftertaste.…

Quality Pu'er tea is the result of quality fresh leaves + excellent production + good storage. Pu'er tea has the characteristic of becoming more fragrant with age, which is also the reason why tea enthusiasts enjoy collecting it. When collecting Pu'er tea, storage is an extremely important aspect. The Importance of Storage for Pu'er Tea Mentioning Pu'er tea, one cannot avoid the topic of "becoming more fragrant with age." For Pu'er tea to become more fragrant over time, it not only requires high-quality raw materials and strict production processes but also appropriate storage. Good storage can make the taste of Pu'er tea increasingly rich, bringing pleasure to those who drink it. On the other hand, poor storage not only ruins a good tea but also saddens the person storing it. Therefore, good storage is very important for the quality of Pu'er tea to improve over time. What are the main factors that determine the quality of Pu'er tea storage? The four primary factors that determine the aging condition of Pu'er tea are temperature, humidity, ventilation, and absence of foreign odors. The ideal environment for storing Pu'er tea should have a moderate temperature; if too high, it may accelerate the aging…

Puer tea is a geographical indication product of Yunnan Province, and as the provincial capital, Kunming serves as the distribution center for Puer tea across China and worldwide, playing an irreplaceable role in its development. Located at a low latitude (25°N, 103°E) and high altitude (1892m), Kunming experiences a spring-like climate year-round, influenced by atmospheric circulation, geographic location, and altitude. The seven-son cake tea is one of the main representative shapes of Yunnan Puer tea. A single cake often represents the smallest sales unit, and the weight of a single cake (commonly known as the cake weight) should comply with the requirements of JJF1070-2005, "Rules for Metrological Inspection of Net Content of Quantitatively Packaged Commodities." The researchers conducted experiments in Kunming, storing 10 cakes each of raw and ripe Puer tea. They recorded the daily cake weights and temperature and humidity values over a period of 12 months. During the 12-month storage period, the monthly average cake weights of both raw and ripe Puer teas fluctuated. From the seventh month (February 2019) to the tenth month (May 2019), there was a dry and hot climate with temperature values exceeding humidity values for four consecutive months. During this time, the monthly…

The three major hotspots for Pu'er tea storage are Guangzhou, Kunming, and Menghai. These locations have significant climatic differences, leading to distinct transformations in the stored Pu'er tea, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Today, let's delve into the world of Kunming-stored Pu'er tea. Introduction to Kunming-Stored Pu'er Tea Kunming is known as the "City of Eternal Spring," located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The temperature varies little throughout the year, making it a high-altitude humid city with relatively dry air during winter and spring. However, looking at macro data, Kunming cannot be considered a dry city, with an average annual temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and humidity of 71%. This is only 8 percentage points lower than Guangzhou. Yet, Kunming cannot be classified as having a humid climate; despite moderate humidity, the evaporation rate is higher, making it relatively dry. The transformation of Pu'er tea relies on fermentation, which requires temperature and humidity. Kunming's relatively dry climate, low air humidity, and stable temperature fluctuations create a suitable environment for Pu'er tea fermentation. The aging process primarily involves enzymatic reactions catalyzed by oxidases, leading to a relatively pure and singular transformation. Although the maturation period is longer, the conversion led…

First Article: The Coordinate Varieties and Three Aromatic Types of the Yiwu Tea Region (click to read); Second Article: Dongguan Warehouse, Kunming Warehouse, Hong Kong Warehouse, Flavor, White Frost, and the Issue of "Warehouse Making" (click to read); Third Article: The Warehousing Cycle for Yiwu Green Bud Tea (click to read); Fourth Article: Storing Pu'er Tea: Pursuing Famous Mountains or Quality (click to read)? Fifth Article: What Are the Differences Between Small Heap Fermentation, Large Heap Fermentation, and the Pu'er Evolution Theory's Ripe Tea Technology? The following is Part Five, focusing on small heap fermentation, large heap fermentation, and the Pu'er Evolution Theory's ripe tea technology. Li Yang: Next, let's talk about ripe tea. Because the last tea we tasted has taken us into another context, jumping into ripe tea. I'm not saying that this is necessarily historical fact, but we can view ripe tea as an attempt to mimic aged tea. If we have the opportunity, we can taste some very old teas and find them excellent, but when you try to make something like that, you realize it would take a lifetime. In such a situation, can we use technical means to directly present certain aspects of aged…