For Pu'er Tea, many friends find it complex, especially those who have just started exploring Pu'er tea. The variety of tastes from different mountains and the fact that the tea improves with age can be confusing. Furthermore, seeing a wide range of prices in the market makes it even more difficult to know how to start. People often end up buying tea blindly. What are the characteristics of high-quality Pu'er tea in terms of color, aroma, taste, and appearance?
The Five Basic Elements to Judge the Quality of Pu'er Tea
1. Appearance of Dry Tea:
The compressed tea has a moderate tightness and uniformity; its color is smooth and lustrous. Pu'er ripe tea has a ruddy-brown color with a glossy sheen and visible golden tips. Pu'er raw tea has a dark luster.
2. Aroma: Evaluate the purity and longevity of the tea's fragrance
A standard Pu'er tea should have a pure aroma without any off, mixed, or moldy odors that would be unpleasant. Pu'er tea is known for becoming more fragrant over time. Its aroma is formed during Fermentation by microorganisms and enzymes, creating a harmonious blend of various aromatic substances resulting in scents like fresh, fruity, and others. These pleasant and pure aromas, such as sweet, Lotus, floral, Honey, nutty, and aged, will persistently increase. If a tea emits an unpleasant or mixed scent, it indicates there might be issues with the tea.
3. Liquor Color: The tea liquor of Pu'er tea should be bright
High-quality Pu'er tea should have a bright or translucent liquor. Generally, older Pu'er teas tend to be clearer. For example, the liquor of Pu'er raw tea is clear yellow, while that of aged raw tea is a crystal-clear red. Pu'er ripe tea has a deep red color that is bright. New ripe teas may appear slightly cloudy due to the breakdown of proteins and fibers during fermentation, which will eventually dissolve into the Water. Over time, the liquor will become brighter. However, if a ripe tea that has been stored for over a year remains cloudy, this requires further consideration. If one tea shows a murky liquor when compared to another of the same type, it suggests problems in the processing, storage, or raw materials.
4. Taste: Smooth, Refreshing, and Sweet Aftertaste
When drinking tea, take small sips slowly and let the tea linger in your mouth to appreciate its flavor. Focus on the smoothness, thickness, refreshment, and sweet aftertaste. Smoothness means the tea is refreshing with a slight sweetness and minimal irritation. Refreshment refers to a clean, silky mouthfeel that provides great comfort to the mouth and throat. This is a requirement for high-quality Pu'er tea. Sweet aftertaste means that after swallowing the tea, there should be a noticeable sweet return, rather than a lingering bitterness.
5. Leaf Base: Color, Uniformity, and Texture
The leaf base should have a good luster, uniformity, and a soft, resilient texture when touched. Pu'er ripe tea has a ruddy-brown leaf base with a glossy sheen. Pu'er raw tea has a yellow-green leaf base with resilience. If the leaf base appears blackened, carbonized, unevenly colored, or feels prickly or mushy, it indicates poor quality.
The five standards summarized above are the sensory quality criteria for high-quality Pu'er tea. Generally, the quality of tea is evaluated based on its external appearance and internal quality. To choose a tea that suits your palate, it is essential to try different teas, make comparisons, and pay attention to your sensory experiences.