Pu'er Tea stands out among teas, as its flavor improves with age. However, not all teas become more fragrant over time; this is only true when the quality of the tea and storage conditions are appropriate. Pu'er ripe tea is suitable for long-term storage, but this does not mean it can be stored indefinitely. Ultimately, the tea must return to its primary purpose: consumption.
How Long Should Pu'er Ripe Tea Be Stored?
Many people ask questions on this topic, which covers a broad range and cannot be explained in great detail due to the extensive knowledge involved. Generally speaking, ripe Pu'er can be consumed immediately after production, but it tastes better after three to five years. This improvement is mainly due to the process of wet-piling. Wet-piling involves moistening and heating the tea leaves to make them somewhat cooked. After being heated, the tea continues to develop when exposed to air. Unlike raw Pu'er, this development in ripe Pu'er is less noticeable, with an increase in smoothness and little change in aroma, as it has already been mostly defined by the wet-piling process. The duration of wet-piling is a critical step in producing ripe Pu'er. High-quality teas should not be overly wet-piled, leaving room for further development. For lower-grade teas with more stems and thinner leaves (teas are graded from 1 to 9, with lower numbers indicating higher quality), they can be wet-piled more thoroughly to reduce bitterness. Poor-quality teas will not significantly improve with additional aging, as they have already undergone significant transformation. Teas of moderate quality reach their peak after three to five years. Top-quality teas reveal their best qualities after ten to fifteen years.
Pu'er Ripe Tea Has Four Optimal Drinking Phases:
1. Around 3 Months
When newly wet-piled, ripe Pu'er still has not fully transformed. It retains a strong “fire” that can cause dryness and is easy to overheat the body if consumed excessively. At this stage, the aroma is impure, the wet-piling scent is prominent, the liquor is cloudy, and the tea's character is unstable, leading to unsatisfactory taste.
2. After 1 Year
After one year, the wet-piling scent has diminished appropriately, and the “fire” has subsided. The tea's character has stabilized, revealing the unique aged fragrance and rich flavor characteristic of ripe Pu'er. This is when the true flavor of the tea can be tasted.
3. 3-5 Years
The flavor of the tea at this stage is stable, the character is mild, the aged fragrance is pure, and the wet-piling scent is almost non-existent. The liquor is thick and smooth, making it suitable for drinking.
4. After 10 Years
At this stage, there is no wet-piling scent left, and the tea's fragrance is pure. The aroma may transform into notes of dates, Herbs, or Ginseng, among others. The liquor is rich, smooth, soft, and sweet, making for an excellent drinking experience.
There is no definitive answer to how long Pu'er tea should be stored for optimal flavor, as some people prefer the sharpness of new tea, while others enjoy the mellow taste of aged tea. Personal preference plays a significant role in determining the ideal storage period. Moreover, even the same tea stored in different environments can yield distinct flavors.