How to buy Tea has always been a challenge for ordinary tea enthusiasts. It's easy to be misled by merchants and fall into traps. Here are some common pitfalls—see if you've fallen for any of them.

01.

Misconception One: Blind Faith in High-altitude Tea

In the tea world, there is a saying, “High mountains produce fine teas,” which means that high-altitude teas have strong aromas and good taste quality.

Why do “high mountains produce fine teas”? This is because the fresh and refreshing flavor comes from amino acids, whose content is inversely proportional to temperature and sunlight.

Generally, the temperature is lower at higher altitudes; for every 100 meters increase in altitude, the temperature drops by 0.6°C, resulting in a 6°C difference at 1000 meters. High mountains often have fog, and when sunlight hits the fog layer, most of it is reflected back, with only scattered light reaching the tea leaves. With less light and lower temperatures, the fresh and refreshing flavor is higher.

However, “high mountains produce fine teas” is not an absolute rule. If the altitude is too high and the temperature is too low, the tea may not grow well. After passing through the fog layer, ultraviolet radiation becomes too strong, which can degrade the quality of the tea.

Some merchants label all types of tea as “high-altitude tea,” ignoring the fact that different tea varieties have different optimal growing environments. For example, teas like Guzhu Purple Bamboo Shoot and Yangxian Snow Bud, which are “lowland teas,” would be suspicious if they claimed to come from high altitudes.

02.

Misconception Two: Blind Faith in Grades

On tea packaging, you often see words like “Special Grade,” “Grade One,” “Grade Two,” and more specific designations such as “Special One” and “Special Two.” Generally speaking, the higher the grade, the better the quality. However, there are many complexities within the grading system.

Firstly, there is a national standard (GB). Then, each tea-producing region has its own local standard (DB). Additionally, tea companies have their own set of corporate standards.

Each company's standards are different. Some companies' “Special Grade” teas may not match the highest grades commonly understood by consumers. There are also private teas where the grading is even more arbitrary.

When buying tea, don't blindly believe in grades. You can learn some purchasing techniques:

Look for certifications, such as QS certification, pollution-free certification, green food certification, etc., which ensure the safety of the tea you purchase.

Consider the production area and brand. Different tea types have relatively fixed production areas, and there are well-known brands within each category. Do some research before making a purchase.

If you're buying tea in a physical store, always taste the tea and try to have the owner Brew it using white porcelain utensils. White porcelain utensils allow you to clearly observe the tea soup and leaf base, and you can taste the true flavor of the tea.

When tasting tea, trust your palate. Even if you know little about tea, trust that your palate won't deceive you. If the taste feels right, then it's correct. If it doesn't feel right, don't buy it no matter how much the shopkeeper tries to persuade you.

03.

Misconception Three: The Older, the Better

Tea lovers who enjoy Pu-erh have certainly heard descriptions like “Pu-erh tea gets better with age,” and aged Pu-erh is often seen at auctions.

The aging process of Pu-erh tea essentially involves slow oxidation, polymerization, decomposition, and other chemical reactions. Storing Pu-erh tea requires specific conditions regarding temperature, humidity, ventilation, and more—it's not something that can be explained in a few sentences.

If storage fails and the tea develops moldy or off flavors, it should not be consumed. Be cautious when encountering such tea during purchases.

From a scientific perspective, experts believe that Pu-erh tea older than 20 years will experience significant loss of nutritional and Health benefits. Some aged Pu-erh teas are priced exorbitantly, largely due to the premium on age and collectibility. For ordinary consumers, there's no need to chase after these high-priced teas.

Drinking and buying tea is a continuous learning process. As your understanding of tea deepens and you gain a more profound appreciation for tea tasting, you'll become increasingly skilled at buying tea.