When selecting Pu'er Tea, you can consider aspects such as appearance, infusion color, raw materials, origin, and storage conditions. Generally, Pu'er tea with a uniform shape, pure aroma, and bright, clear infusion color is of good quality. Different types of Pu'er tea have different selection methods, so it's best to follow the specific circumstances. Taking raw (sheng) and ripe (shou) Pu'er teas as examples:
What Makes Good Pu'er Tea
To determine the quality of Pu'er tea, consider the following:
1. Examine the Shape: High-quality Pu'er tea has a neat and regular shape, while lower-quality tea may have loose and incomplete strands.
The best Pu'er tea has a uniform and regular shape, with neat edges, no missing corners, consistent thickness, moderate tightness, clear mold patterns, and glossy, clean strands. Lower-quality Pu'er tea will have loose and incomplete strands, dull colors without luster, and noticeable defects.
2. Smell the Aroma: High-quality Pu'er tea has a pure and lasting fragrance, free from any unusual or mixed odors. Even when the tea cools down, it still emits a pleasant aroma. Lower-quality Pu'er tea has noticeable and sometimes stimulating unusual odors.
3. Observe the Infusion Color: High-quality Pu'er tea produces a clear and bright infusion, allowing you to see the leaves at the bottom. Lower-quality Pu'er tea results in an infusion that appears greenish or black, looking murky and containing impurities.
4. Inspect the Leaves: High-quality Pu'er tea yields plump, natural, and evenly spread leaves with good elasticity after Steeping. Lower-quality Pu'er tea results in loose, thin leaves, small buds, and a mix of old and young leaves.
5. Taste the Flavor: High-quality Pu'er tea offers a rich mouthfeel, sweet aftertaste, smooth throat passage, and refreshing warmth. Lower-quality Pu'er tea produces a thin mouthfeel, more bitterness and astringency, and a choking sensation in the throat.
Which Type of Pu'er Tea Tastes Better?
Ripe Pu'er tea is processed through artificial methods. It typically takes 5 to 10 years for the tea to mature, during which it undergoes “pile fermentation,” enriching its flavor and enhancing its aroma. Ripe Pu'er tea is softer and less stimulating on the palate due to the processing.
Raw Pu'er tea, also known as green Pu'er, is essential for enthusiasts. It has a long, slender shape with a rough appearance, a strong aroma, and a refreshing taste. Unlike ripe Pu'er, raw Pu'er usually requires extended storage to develop into a richer flavor.
Pu'er tea is categorized into large-leaf and small-leaf varieties. Large-leaf Pu'er tea has a richer flavor and darker infusion color compared to small-leaf varieties. It is characterized by a strong aroma and a certain degree of bitterness, making it suitable as an after-dinner Drink.
In contrast, small-leaf Pu'er tea has finer leaves and a gentler taste even after maturation, making it ideal for those with more sensitive palates. Small-leaf Pu'er tea is sometimes blended with other ingredients, such as Rose petals, to create unique flavors.
Pu'er tea cakes are one of the most representative products of Pu'er tea. They are made from Black Tea and go through various production processes before being compressed into cake form. Pu'er tea cakes have a deep color, a distinctive aroma, and flavor, making them a must-try for Pu'er tea lovers.