Pu'er tea's characteristic of improving with age attracts many tea enthusiasts to collect it actively. In the tea storage market, Pu'er tea is a hot favorite, with many people enthusiastic about buying and selling it. Collecting tea is a good thing, but the current market is mixed with both good and bad, making it easy for novices to fall into misconceptions.
A Brief Discussion on Misconceptions in Pu'er Tea Collection
1. Blindly Pursuing Age: Pu'er tea does indeed improve with age, and because of this characteristic, older teas are highly sought after. Pu'er teas that have been stored for a long time are expensive and rare, and some unscrupulous merchants take advantage of this by passing off teas that are only one or two months old as aged teas.
2. Blindly Pursuing Storage Time: Pu'er tea can be stored for a long time, but this doesn't mean the longer the better. If stored for too long, the tea will over-age, greatly reducing its flavor, and may even become as tasteless as Water. Sacrificing the taste of the tea for long-term storage is not worth it.
3. Blindly Pursuing Famous Mountain Teas: Famous mountain teas are like aged teas – they are valuable because they are rare. Famous mountain teas have excellent taste but low yields, which makes them expensive. Whether you're drinking or buying tea, you should first consider your own needs. Tea is meant to bring comfort, not be a burden.
4. Blindly Following Trends in Collection: Pu'er tea requires specific environmental conditions for storage, including temperature, Humidity, and ventilation, which need to be adjusted according to local conditions. Therefore, it's very challenging for individuals to store Pu'er tea properly. Any problem in any step can affect the quality of the Pu'er tea.
When Storing Pu'er Tea, Note the Following:
1. Store raw and ripe teas separately.
2. Requirements for Storing Raw Tea: Keep away from light, prevent dampness, no odors, and sealed (the post-fermentation and enzymatic reactions of raw tea require anaerobic conditions, especially for high-grade pure ancient Tree teas. For teas with less roughness and better taste, it is important to keep them sealed. For arboreal and small tree teas, which have higher levels of roughness, moderate ventilation can help reduce roughness, but they don't need to be as tightly sealed as high-grade pure ancient tree teas.)
3. Requirements for Storing Ripe Tea: Keep away from light, prevent dampness, no odors, and moderately ventilated (this helps with the post-fermentation of ripe tea, accelerating the removal of new flavors and sour tastes. Too much sealing and low humidity are not suitable for later transformations. If the humidity is too low when storing ripe tea, it can result in dryness.)
Storing tea is a necessary step for most Pu'er tea enthusiasts and is part of the fun and uniqueness of Pu'er tea. A well-stored aged Pu'er tea should be dry and free of odors, with a clear surface and distinct leaves. When brewed, it should be rich and fragrant, with a clear color and a reddish hue that matches its age. In general storage, Pu'er tea undergoes various changes based on environmental factors, such as:
1. Enzymatic Reactions: These are the desirable transformation processes we pursue. Temperature and humidity primarily influence enzymatic reactions in the storage process. Temperature determines the speed of enzymatic reactions, and comfortable temperatures for humans are also conducive to enzyme activity. Suitable storage temperatures are generally manageable. Humidity is essential for enzymatic reactions, as water acts as a medium between substances. Freshly produced Pu'er tea should have moisture content controlled below 10%, and the storage environment's humidity should be kept around 50% to 70%.
2. Mold Growth: This is the main reason why most Pu'er teas are discarded. Molds (microorganisms) can grow on the surface of Pu'er tea, which is rich in sugar, in environments where the temperature is above 30°C and humidity exceeds 70%. If the temperature and humidity continue to rise, mold growth in Pu'er tea is inevitable (high temperature and low humidity, or low temperature and high humidity, can also cause mold growth in Pu'er tea. When one factor is too high, the requirement for the other factor decreases).
3. Oxidation: Previously, many believed oxidation was one of the normal pathways for Pu'er tea transformation. However, it is now thought that oxidation can lead to loss of aroma, weakening of taste, and make the tea flavorless. However, in the short term, oxidation can weaken the bitterness and astringency of Pu'er tea, achieving a rapid aging effect. The principle of “awakening” the tea is based on this (another purpose of awakening the tea is to dissipate the storage smell). It's impossible and unnecessary to completely avoid oxidation reactions in tea storage; just relatively seal the Pu'er tea in a small space. Also, loose tea should be sealed as much as possible or not stored at all.
How to Prevent Mold in Your Stored Tea at Home?
The characteristic of Pu'er tea improving with age means that it uses breathable Packaging materials, so microorganisms may adhere to the tea surface. Normally, the tea cakes are dry, so even if there are microorganisms, they do not grow. However, with changes in climate, during periods of high temperature and high humidity, microorganisms may start growing. As the environment changes again, the microorganisms stop growing, leading to the formation of bacterial spots on the tea.
Moldy tea can be detected in time, with the mold brushed off and the tea dried before being placed in a ventilated environment. After storing it for a period, it can still be consumed. However, if the mold is severe and accompanied by a pungent odor, it is not recommended to Drink it.
The key to storing Pu'er tea is ventilation, ensuring the air in the storage environment circulates. If stored in a sealed and non-breathable environment, forced ventilation and dehumidification are necessary. For typical home storage of Pu'er tea, ensure daily ventilation. If the humidity is high, dehumidify appropriately. If dehumidification is not an option, increase ventilation.