The processing technique for Pu'er ripened Tea can be simply described as a rapid post-Fermentation process, which contrasts with the traditional slow and natural fermentation of Pu'er tea. The primary change is in the fermentation technology, completely overturning the significance of time. 1973 was a year worth remembering by all Pu'er tea enthusiasts, as the artificial post-fermentation technique for Pu'er tea was successfully tested and developed at the Menghai Tea Factory.
Blending ripened tea can be divided into blending before piling (fermentation) and after piling. “Blending before piling” involves mixing the required raw materials in a specific ratio before fermentation to ensure that each type of tea from different regions and with distinct characteristics can blend well during the chemical reactions that occur, which is more conducive to a harmonious taste profile. “Blending after piling” involves appropriately blending Pu'er tea after the heap fermentation based on the situation of each pure Raw material, allowing for better control over the taste and enabling the creation of a desired flavor experience.
If the raw materials for ripened tea are relatively uniform, once the transformation is complete, the unique qualities of that ripened tea will have essentially reached their end. In contrast, blended teas, due to the differences in the raw materials used, the length of fermentation, and the degree of fermentation, undergo gradual transformations over time, resulting in a layered and complex taste profile.
There are various types of blending, including different grades, regions, Tree ages, seasons, and years, or even different degrees of fermentation. The key is that each type of raw material must be scientifically combined in a certain ratio to achieve an effect greater than the sum of its parts (“1+1 > 2”).
Many newcomers to the world of tea often misunderstand blending as “passing off inferior products as good ones,” but this is not the case. The core principle of blending is: to highlight strengths while mitigating weaknesses, emphasize quality while downplaying shortcomings, and balance high and low grades.