Leaf

Tea is born in the embrace of nature, gathered from the essence of heaven and earth, absorbing the vitality of the sun and moon. From green leaves to the final transformation into the "green" fragrance on one's palate, tea and its green origins are inseparable. To thoroughly explore the essence of Pu'er tea production processes such as killing the green and sun-drying, the transformation from fresh leaves to finished product is far more meticulous and sophisticated than one might imagine. Today, let's delve into the production process of Pu'er tea. Wilted Fresh Leaves In the morning mist of tea regions, just as the fog begins to dissipate, tea farmers are already busy in the fields. Red sunlight filters through the misty clouds, draping everything in a golden veil. The dewdrops on the green tea leaves wet the gloves of the pickers. The freshly picked leaves are bright green and very tender. They need to be set aside to air dry patiently. As time passes, the water content within the leaves is gradually evaporated by the scorching sun, and the once taut tea stems become limp and lie on the ground. This process is known as airing, the first step of…

The floral-scented Bai Mudan tea is made from suitable raw materials for white tea production, processed through a combination of withering, shaking the green, stacking after merging sieves, baking, and sorting. The processing of floral-scented Bai Mudan tea mainly includes the following steps: 1. First combined withering: indoor natural withering, indoor heated withering, and sun withering are combined. Sun withering should be done during the morning or evening when the sunlight is weak. 2. Shaking the green: this is done once, shaking 40 to 60 times. 3. Second combined withering: it starts with indoor heated withering at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and relative humidity of 40% to 50%, lasting 3 to 6 hours. If the moisture content of the withered leaves reaches 18% to 22%, they can then be transferred to indoor natural withering, which lasts 2 to 5 hours to complete. 4. Stacking after merging sieves: after the second combined withering, the sieves are merged, and the tea is piled up to a thickness of 15 to 35 cm. The stacking process lasts 1 to 7 days. 5. Initial baking: at a temperature of 50 to 60°C, lasting 60 to 100 minutes. 6. Sorting: after the initial…

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,…

As a post-fermented tea, Puer tea's rich internal components change over time. Many Puer tea enthusiasts store substantial quantities at home. How long Puer tea can be stored depends on its storage conditions; it could be as little as a few years or as much as several decades. When storing Puer tea, it is essential to note: 1. Avoid direct sunlight exposure, as it can impart an unpleasant sour taste. 2. Prevent any external water intrusion, as this can lead to too rapid maturation and possibly microbial fermentation, causing undesirable changes in quality. 3. Keep the tea away from any foreign odors that might taint its flavor. 4. Store single varieties together to avoid complicating the monitoring of their condition. 5. When removing tea for use, take enough for your needs to minimize disturbance and make it easier to monitor the tea's condition. Puer tea is a post-fermented tea that becomes more fragrant with age when stored under suitable conditions. However, those who have stored loose Puer tea for a while may notice that the originally enjoyable flavor changes over time, becoming bland or even acquiring off-flavors, failing to develop the characteristic of improving with age. This is because loose…

I. Poor Quality Manifestations The main manifestations of poor quality in albino tea include overgrowth of new shoots, distortion of buds and leaves, hindered recovery to green, and physiological disorders. 1. Overgrowth of New Shoots Overgrowth is the mildest manifestation of poor quality. When new shoots develop to have two or three leaves, they no longer produce new leaves but instead show a significant increase in stem length. The length of a one-bud-two-or-three-leaves shoot can reach over 10 cm, sometimes even exceeding 15 cm. These buds and leaves are well-albino, but due to their excessive length, they are unsuitable for flat or strip-shaped tea processing. However, there is still room for processing into coiled or curled teas. This phenomenon is more likely to occur in leaf-white type albino teas. Morphology of Overgrown Albino Shoots 2. Distortion of Buds and Leaves Distortion primarily occurs in tea buds that sprout later during lower temperatures. It is characterized by hooked bud shapes, hardened green stems, long and slender leaves resembling willow leaves, twisted leaf surfaces with asymmetric veins, irregular leaf margins, and snow-white coloration that is hard and thin. These buds and leaves cannot be processed into normal fresh leaf shapes, and the…

       Discerning a tea's aging potential isn't something that can be accurately determined in a short period of time. It requires not only foundational knowledge but also experience gained through tasting, discussions, and perhaps even a bit of luck. You need to find a Pu'er tea that suits your taste and use it as a benchmark for assessing the aging potential of other teas, making it easier to judge their maturation capabilities. How to Assess the Aging Potential of Pu'er Tea 1. Quality of the Tea Product The three main factors that influence the quality of Pu'er tea are: raw materials, processing techniques, and storage conditions. The inherent differences in the raw materials (in terms of their intrinsic substances) largely determine the differences in the tea's quality over time. Processing techniques and storage conditions determine the tea's ability to age well. Often, tea enthusiasts debate whether ancient tree teas or younger tree teas age better. As mentioned in previous articles, everyone has different standards for what constitutes good taste in Pu'er tea, so direct comparisons are difficult. 2. Timeframe Many people overlook the importance of the timeframe when assessing a Pu'er tea's aging potential. This often leads them…

Everything has its destiny, and so does tea. My life is intertwined with tea, a bond of fate between me and it. A pot of hot tea, a set of tea ware, a pouch of tea leaves. All my beautiful moments in life originate from tea. Drinking tea involves a sense of affinity and wisdom; to find kinship with tea is a blessing. As Bai Luomei said, "Tea has its own destiny, pots have their own cause and effect, and passersby have their own commitments. Everything in the world has its own faith and mission." All meetings in the world are due to past dispersals, and all partings are for the sake of finding one's final destination. When the tea brews its first bubbling and the stove fire turns red, every cup of tea we encounter in our lives is pure, beautiful, and compassionate in its own way. A tea lover always carries tea in their heart, thus tea is always present in their life, wherever they go, they yearn for a whiff of its fragrance. A tea lover's affection and obsession with tea have long transcended the mundane, becoming an inevitable part of their destiny. Su Dongpo said, "Fine…

Summer and autumn are critical periods for tea garden management. Strengthening summer and autumn tea garden production management is the foundation for ensuring high-quality and high-yield summer and autumn tea and the following spring tea. The Planting Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the Expert Advisory Group for Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Tea Industry Technology System, have developed the following technical guidance on summer and autumn tea garden production management and disaster prevention and mitigation. Strengthening Tea Garden Production Management (1) Tea Plant Pruning - For year-round harvesting tea gardens, promptly perform the initial light pruning after spring tea harvesting, cutting off the top 5-10 cm of shoots from the canopy. During summer tea harvesting, it is advisable to allow some growth retention and use the leaf-retention method or tip-picking method to maintain an appropriate leaf layer thickness. Harvesting should be appropriately stopped earlier in autumn to avoid affecting the yield and quality of the following year's spring tea. To cultivate a good picking surface, the second light pruning should be completed before mid-July, with the pruning height…

First is clarity—smell the tea. Regardless of whether the Pu'er tea is raw or ripe, new or old, good or bad, loose leaf or compressed, or its price, the first step is to smell it. After Pu'er tea has undergone aging and fermentation, it should develop a mature aroma. However, there should be no musty odor. A musty smell indicates that the storage area was damp or excessively humid, lacking ventilation. The mature aroma should dissipate with the heat when the tea is brewed, while a musty smell is due to the tea having spoiled and become moldy from being damp both inside and out. Second is purity—judge by its color. Before brewing, check if the tea has a clear scent (no strange or foul odors), then brew it. When Pu'er tea is stored under normal conditions, even after 30, 50, or even 100 years, the color of the tea liquor will not turn black or develop odd flavors. Third is proper storage—Pu'er should be stored in a clean, well-ventilated environment free of other odors. Fourth, tea readily absorbs nearby scents. The aroma of the brewed tea can indicate the storage conditions and the duration of oxidation. The Pu'er tea…

Puer raw tea is suitable for storage and has an increasing value. Puer tea, based on the differences in processing techniques, is divided into two categories: raw tea and ripe tea. Raw tea is made from Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea, which is steamed and pressed into shape. The finished product is rich and active in substances, and its quality improves over time, making it suitable for long-term storage. Ripe tea, on the other hand, undergoes fermentation and piling processes, resulting in stable tea quality that is ideal for daily consumption. Precautions for Collecting Puer Tea: 1. Blindly Pursuing "Age" and "Antiquity" Many collectors believe that the longer the vintage and the higher the price, the greater the collection value of Puer tea. They thus blindly pursue Puer aged teas from the 1960s and 1970s. However, Puer teas stored for two to three decades are already rare, while those stored for four to five decades or even longer are extremely scarce. Some so-called "aged cakes" sold for thousands of yuan are actually produced by unscrupulous manufacturers and merchants who exploit consumers' preference for age, deliberately presenting young teas as old ones with fake labels. The actual cost of such teas…

"Throughout history, poets have been tea connoisseurs, toasting their friends with a cup of clear tea." In China's thousands of years of history, the humble tea leaf has played an indispensable role. Among the seven refined pursuits of life—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—one cannot do without tea! The tea mountains are filled with verdant green after a whole winter of rest and accumulation. It seems that the fragrance of tea wafts from the tenderest and most vibrant branches among the leaves, its subtle aroma enchanting and intoxicating. Spring breezes are delightful, but nothing compares to sipping a cup of spring tea, lost in its floral splendor. What is Pre-Ming Tea? "Pre-Ming Tea" and "Pre-Rain Tea" are terms used in the Jiangnan tea region along the Yangtze River to refer to different stages of spring tea based on seasonal divisions. Due to the climate in the Jiangnan area, some early-emerging tea varieties begin sprouting around the Awakening of Insects and Spring Equinox. Thus, tea harvested before the Qingming Festival is called "Pre-Ming Tea." The appeal of "Pre-Ming Tea" has always been due to its high quality and relative scarcity. Its excellence lies in the tenderness of its buds…

The tea picking technique directly affects the yield and quality of tea. A scientifically sound picking technique should accurately control the picking standards, methods, cycles, and storage of fresh leaves while balancing the relationship between picking and nurturing. Below is an introduction to the manual picking technique for high-quality green tea fresh leaves. Tea Picking Standards The picking standards are determined based on factors such as the tea plant variety, growth status, new shoot development, and the type of processed tea product. Generally, high-quality green tea is picked at a tender stage, starting with single buds, followed by one bud and one initial leaf, one bud and one full leaf, and one bud and two initial leaves. For needle-shaped teas, picking ranges from one bud and one initial leaf to one bud and two initial leaves, while flat bud-shaped teas are picked from single buds to one bud and one initial leaf. Tea Picking Period In spring, when picking fresh leaves for high-quality green tea, harvesting should commence when 5% to 10% of the buds and leaves on the tea plant canopy reach the picking standard. Based on the sprouting of buds and leaves, picking should be organized every 1…

In the world of tea, tea stems, often overlooked as the “green leaf,” actually play an indispensable role, particularly in dark tea. They are not only a source of aroma but also a flavor harmonizer. This article delves into the unique value of tea stems in dark tea and how they influence its aroma and taste, inviting you to appreciate the charm of tea stems.   Tea Stems: The Source of Dark Tea’s “Perfume” Tea stems contain rich aromatic substances. During the production of dark tea, these aromatics release from the stems, blending with the buds and leaves, combining with the active components of the tea to transform into higher-quality fragrances. An appropriate amount of tea stems, like the base notes in perfume, adds depth and layers to the dark tea, making its aroma richer and more lasting. Tea Stems: The Choice “Flavor Enhancer” for Dark Tea Mature tea stems contain more tea polysaccharides, proteins, minerals, and other components than tender leaves. These water-soluble substances dissolve quickly in the tea infusion during brewing, enriching the mouthfeel and making it fuller and smoother. The theanine in tea stems gives dark tea a distinctive freshness, enhancing its overall flavor and turning it…

  The charm of raw Pu'er tea lies in the fact that with the passage of time, its changes become even more remarkable. Each infusion offers a myriad of flavors, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Villages and regions each have their unique flavors, always bringing delightful surprises. Tasting Pu'er tea is an art; experienced tea connoisseurs can identify the origin, age, and storage duration of the tea from just one sip. For beginners, however, faced with the bewildering variety of Pu'er teas, they often feel lost and end up following trends blindly.   Tasting Pu'er Tea   1. First, observe the color of the tea leaves.   Dry tea should appear naturally lustrous, while the infused liquor should be clear and bright. After brewing, pay attention to the depth and brightness of the tea liquor. High-quality teas produce a rich and bright red liquor that forms a layer of tea mist on its surface, indicating a richer taste and higher content of fat-soluble substances. Poor-quality teas will yield a liquor that is red but not rich, lacking brightness and resembling soy sauce in color.   2. Next, smell the aroma.   Pu'er tea has dozens of different aromas, which are a…

Dry-warehouse Pu'er tea refers to Pu'er tea stored in a dry, ventilated warehouse environment with low humidity. "Dry" in "dry warehouse" means dry storage, which is not a manufacturing process of Pu'er tea but rather a method or environment for its preservation later on. How to Identify Dry-Warehouse Pu'er Tea 1. Appearance: Dry-warehouse Pu'er tea has compact and firm tea leaves, fresh and lustrous color, and a shiny surface, fully demonstrating the vitality of the tea. 2. Aroma: Dry-warehouse Pu'er tea has an aged tea aroma. 3. Infusion Color: The infusion color of dry-warehouse Pu'er tea is chestnut to dark chestnut, and the tea still retains bitterness and astringency. The infusion is clear and bright. 4. Leaf Base: The leaf base of dry-warehouse Pu'er tea is chestnut yellow to deep fruit color, with active softness and elasticity. 5. Cake Body: The edge of dry-warehouse Pu'er tea cakes is looser due to moisture, but it also becomes harder towards the center due to moisture and pressure. Characteristics of Dry-Warehouse Pu'er Tea Dry-warehouse Pu'er tea refers to tea stored in a clean, well-ventilated, and dry warehouse (generally with air humidity less than 70%) where the tea naturally ferments. It is best aged…

Tea withering refers to the process of dispersing moisture in tea leaves before they are subjected to heat fixation, allowing for more chemical changes to occur. Traditionally, methods of withering include solar withering (sun-drying), natural indoor withering (spreading out to air-dry), and a combination of both. Nowadays, semi-mechanized withering equipment that is artificially controlled—the withering trough—is also used. The Main Purpose of WitheringThe primary purpose is to reduce the water content in fresh leaves and stems, promoting complex chemical changes due to enzymes. The chemical reactions during withering and fermentation have a broad range of effects, which directly relate to the tea's aroma, taste, and liquor color.Proper and effective withering allows the grassy smell of fresh leaves to dissipate and be replaced by a fragrant scent, often accompanied by fruity or floral aromas. The resulting tea has a smooth and fragrant taste without bitterness or astringency. Withering requires suitable temperature, humidity, and air circulation conditions. The Degree of Withering for the Six Types of TeaGenerally, green tea does not undergo withering or fermentation; yellow tea does not wither but undergoes a yellowing process after heat fixation followed by additional fermentation; dark tea does not wither and undergoes post-fermentation; white tea…

Kneading is a process in the production of Pu'er tea after the fresh leaves have been subjected to initial fixation. It involves using external force to shape the tea leaves into strips and breaking down the cellular structure of the fresh leaves, allowing the internal substances of the tea to adhere to the surface of the leaves. The significance of this process lies in rupturing cell walls to release tea juice, facilitating the polymerization of components such as polyphenols and catechins, preparing the tea for later fermentation, and curling loose tea leaves into strips, which helps with the even release of internal substances during brewing. The strength of kneading, duration, and cell breakage rate are closely related to the taste, aroma, and subsequent transformation of Pu'er tea. Cold Kneading vs. Hot Kneading The principle of kneading is to use hot kneading for older leaves and cold kneading for younger leaves, as well as heavy kneading for older leaves and gentle kneading for younger ones. Based on personal experience in tea production, Pu'er tea requires heavy kneading, which is not done in one go but rather through repeated kneading. The purpose of "repeated kneading" is essentially to supplement the first "natural…

Tea tree cuttings are the primary means of propagating clonal tea seedlings. First, select a good mother garden of tea tree cultivars. During spring planting (February to March) or autumn planting (September to October), prune red-brown, semi-lignified, healthy, pest and disease-free branches with full axillary buds from the mother garden. Cut the branches into short cuttings 3 to 4 centimeters long, each with one leaf and a full axillary bud. Ensure that the cut is smooth and diagonal. (1) Method for Cutting Insertion Thoroughly moisten the seedbed before cutting insertion. Once the surface soil is no longer sticky, draw lines according to the length of the tea leaves. Generally, the row spacing for the cuttings should be 7 to 8 centimeters, and the plant spacing should be 2 to 3 centimeters, ensuring that the leaves do not overlap. Hold the lower part of the leaf of the cutting with your thumb, index, and middle fingers, then insert the cutting straight or slightly diagonally into the soil. The depth should be such that only the petiole is exposed. While inserting, lightly press the soil around the cutting to ensure it is firmly in contact with the soil, which aids root development.…

Guidelines for High-Temperature Drought Early Warning and Disaster Mitigation Measures in Tea Gardens Hunan Provincial Tea Industry Technology System Li Saijun & Li Wei July 25, 2024 Since early July, our province has been experiencing persistent high temperatures and droughts, with the drought rapidly worsening in most areas, severely impacting normal tea garden production. On July 25, the Hunan Meteorological Observatory issued the first red alert for extreme heat of the summer. In response to this extreme high-temperature and drought climate disaster, the Hunan Provincial Tea Industry Technology System has timely provided technical guidance, proposing specific measures for pre-disaster prevention and protection, as well as post-disaster recovery work in tea gardens. I. Pre-Disaster Prevention and Protection Measures (1) Interspace Covering ① Lay an appropriate amount of straw, fallen leaves, etc., in the gaps between tea plants to cover the soil surface at a thickness of 5-10 cm. This layer helps protect the soil, reducing water evaporation and aiding in the retention of nutrients in the soil. ② Intercropping green manure can effectively provide shade, reduce temperatures, and improve the microclimate within the tea garden, thus effectively preventing damage to tea plants from high temperatures and intense sunlight. (2) Scientific Shading…

The shelf life of Pu'er tea is typically 10 to 20 years. Pu'er tea is made from unique large-leaf varieties, and depending on the production process, it is divided into raw (sheng) and ripe (shou) categories. Its leaves are thick and substantial, rich in content, and capable of aging, so there is no fixed expiration date. Generally, it is believed that it can be stored for 15 to 20 years. According to GBT22111-2008 Pu'er Tea standards, under proper storage conditions, it can be kept for a long time. The Shelf Life of Pu'er Tea In daily life, when purchasing food items, we always check the expiration dates, and this applies to tea as well. However, with the variety of tea types, different processing methods, and varying characteristics, each type of tea will have a different shelf life. Observant tea enthusiasts have noticed: green tea, when stored at low temperatures, has a shelf life of about one year; black tea generally lasts for 2 to 3 years; when checking the expiration date of Pu'er tea, it usually says "can be stored for a long time under proper conditions." This leads many enthusiasts to wonder, "Does Pu'er tea expire?" Currently, the most…

Puer tea does not need to be stored in the fridge, as the high humidity and low temperature within a fridge, along with its sealed environment, make it more susceptible to dampness and odor absorption, which is detrimental to enzymatic activity. Puer tea is a post-fermentation tea that improves with age under proper storage conditions. Puer Tea: Should It Be Stored in the Fridge? Puer tea does not need to be stored in the fridge, as the high humidity and low temperature within a fridge, along with its sealed environment, make it more susceptible to dampness and odor absorption, which is detrimental to enzymatic activity. Furthermore, puer tea is a post-fermentation tea that requires air and temperature for its substance conversion. Therefore, under normal circumstances, storing it at room temperature, in a well-ventilated and dry environment is sufficient. What Types of Tea Need to Be Stored in the Fridge? Green tea, floral teas, yellow tea, and lightly fragrant oolong tea should be refrigerated. These types of tea undergo minimal or no fermentation, making their internal substances highly reactive to oxygen and environmental factors. Storing them in the fridge helps isolate them from external influences and maintains their stability. However, when…

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…

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…