For Tea intended for consumption in the near future, it is recommended to store it in a sealed aluminum foil bag. Open the bag when you need to pry off some tea, and then return the remainder and reseal it.
You can also choose glazed ceramic jars that do not allow air to pass through or well-sealed tin cans. As long as the seal is tight, it will prevent excessive oxidation.
Some people are accustomed to storing loose tea in purple Clay pots, but this may lead to excessive oxidation and diminish the flavor of the tea.
When dealing with older teas with odd odors, young raw teas with prominent astringency, or teas that have suddenly developed an acidic taste—small issues like these can be addressed by placing the tea in a purple clay pot. The tea comes into contact with oxygen inside the purple clay pot, which helps to break down the substances causing the odd odors, astringency, or acidity. However, if left too long, the tea's body will become dispersed and many active compounds will be lost. Therefore, it is not recommended to store Pu'er tea in a purple clay pot for long-term preservation.
How Should Pu'er Tea Be Stored Long-Term?
The key to long-term storage is: stability of the micro-environment.
If you hope for your Pu'er tea to improve with age, the best choice is sealed storage. This is because only with a sealed environment can the micro-environment remain stable.
How to Maintain Stability of the Micro-Environment?
Store the tea in a clean, dark, moisture-free, and odorless environment, ensuring it is sealed.
Compressed tea is preferred, and the tighter the better. Loose tea has a larger surface area exposed to air, making it prone to oxidation and unsuitable for long-term storage. Tighter compression is beneficial because it helps maintain the stability of the micro-environment.
The larger the amount of tea stored, the better. A larger quantity is more conducive to maintaining the stability of the micro-environment.
Most Cake teas come in a bundle wrapped in bamboo sheath, which serves as waterproofing and provides a protective layer for the stability of the small environment of the cake tea.
If storing large quantities of tea, you can place many bundles wrapped in bamboo sheaths in a moisture-proof laminated Cardboard box, seal the box, and stack them for storage.