Pu'er tea is primarily divided into raw and ripe varieties. How do you choose an affordable yet delicious raw Pu'er tea?
How to Select Raw Pu'er Tea?
1. Start by examining the tea Cake. Look for signs that it's spring tea, which usually has some yellowish leaves on its surface. Check for “hoof prints,” as spring tea buds and leaves are slightly fatter than those of Autumn Tea. The texture of autumn tea appears smoother and more linear compared to spring tea, with longer and finer strands. Autumn tea doesn't have yellowish leaves and looks very clean.
2. Smell the tea cake. Good tea should have a dry aroma and no off odors. If there are any unusual smells, immediately discuss this with the seller to determine the cause. Be cautious when tasting the tea later.
3. After rinsing the tea, pay attention to the clarity of the Infusion in the Teapot. A good infusion should be very clear, with a light yellow color for new teas.
4. When tasting, judge your initial impression. If the tea is very Astringent, see if there is a subsequent production of saliva that mitigates the astringency. If, after swallowing the tea and then saliva, there is no increase in saliva and the astringency remains strong, the tea is likely from plantation-grown trees.
5. Pay attention to the aftertaste. If you experience saliva production under the tongue and along the sides, as well as the cheeks, the tea is likely of high quality and comes from old arbor trees. If you feel sensations at the back of the tongue or even down the throat, this is known as “throat resonance.” Typically, only teas from trees over 100 years old exhibit this characteristic. A tea that combines saliva production, minimal astringency, a fresh sensation under the tongue, sensations along the sides of the tongue, and deep throat resonance likely comes from trees over 100-200 years old.
6. During tasting, smell the infused leaves and check for any unusual odors. Normally, they should have an ink-like aroma. Occasionally, some teas may have a sweet fragrance. If there are other strange smells, these should also be detectable in the infusion.
7. Finally, inspect the infused leaves. This is very important: High-quality leaves should remain intact, and their color should be yellow-green. If the leaves remain green even after many infusions, the tea was likely quickly oven-dried rather than sun-dried.
8. Lastly, summarize your impressions. Consider whether the tea's shortcomings are acceptable and if its strengths appeal to you. If the drawbacks are minor and you like its strengths, you might consider purchasing it. Finding a tea that excels in all aspects mentioned is possible, but such teas are very expensive. Additionally, if purchasing a famous tea, there should typically be regional protection labels. Harmless and organic teas will have national certifications on their packaging.
What Key Points Should You Keep in Mind While Selecting?
First, According to National Pu'er Tea Standards
In modern tea gardens, according to the national standard for Pu'er tea, the higher the grade of the harvested fresh leaves, the better:
1. Special Grade: More than 70% one bud and one leaf, less than 30% one bud and two leaves;
2. Grade One: More than 70% one bud and two leaves, less than 30% other leaves of equal tenderness;
3. Grade Two: More than 60% one bud and two to three leaves, less than 40% other leaves of equal tenderness;
4. Grade Three: More than 50% one bud and two to three leaves, less than 50% other leaves of equal tenderness;
5. Grade Four: More than 70% one bud and three to four leaves, less than 30% other leaves of equal tenderness;
6. Grade Five: More than 50% one bud and three to four leaves, less than 50% other leaves of equal tenderness;
Second, Based on Infusion Durability
Slightly older leaves generally have better durability in infusions. For example, more than 70% one bud and two leaves, with less than 30% other tender leaves, or more than 60% one bud and three leaves, with less than 40% other leaves of similar tenderness.
Third, Based on Aging Time
This is a unique attribute of Pu'er tea. According to the natural transformation process of the tea, within a certain timeframe, the natural transformation speed of the tea is rapid, while after a certain period, the natural transformation speed decreases.