Yunnan Puer Tea is typically harvested according to the seasons, dividing it into spring, summer, and autumn teas. It can also be classified into raw and ripe teas based on its processing method. It's often said that Spring Tea is as precious as gold due to its early harvest, high price, and superior quality. In contrast, Autumn Tea is less popular because it's not as high-quality as spring tea. So, what are the differences between Puer spring tea and autumn tea?

Puer Spring Tea or Autumn Tea: Which is Better?

Spring tea can be divided into “Tea before the Ming Festival,” “Tea before the Rain Festival,” and “Late Spring Tea.” Tea before the Ming Festival refers to spring tea produced before the Qingming Festival, collectively known as early spring tea. In this regard, Yunnan Puer tea is unique since ancient tree teas mostly grow in high-altitude mountains, so the harvesting schedule depends on the specific conditions of the tea mountain.

“Three days early is a treasure, three days late is grass” emphasizes the importance of timing. To ensure the quality of spring tea, every step from picking to production and sale must race against time. This allows for an early market entry, quickly capturing the spring tea market.

Spring tea accumulates the energy of an entire winter, resulting in plump, green buds with soft leaves rich in internal substances. Therefore, spring tea is characterized by a thick, full-bodied taste, a strong aroma, freshness, and a high content of internal substances. These qualities make spring tea superior to other types of tea, which is why it's highly sought after by tea enthusiasts.

Autumn tea is harvested between the beginning of autumn and the White Dew period in the 24 solar terms, also known as “Valley Flower tea.” The climate during autumn falls between that of spring and summer. After growing and being harvested during the spring and summer, new shoots contain fewer internal substances, resulting in smaller and unevenly sized buds and leaves with more inter-node leaves and thinner leaves; they have lower internal substance content, a mild taste, thin water with a sweet taste, and a higher aroma.

The appearance of spring and autumn teas differs: spring tea has a longer growth period, making its leaves richer in internal substances. Fresh buds are soft and lustrous, while dried tea is relatively thicker and sturdier. Autumn tea has a shorter growth cycle and fewer internal substances, making it more brittle and of poorer texture.

The taste of spring and autumn teas varies: spring tea has a full-bodied aroma, a long-lasting taste, and a strong tea qi, with high sweetness leading to a lasting aftertaste and good durability when steeped. In contrast, autumn tea has a light aroma, a thin and bland taste, low sweetness, rarely reaches a level of lasting aftertaste, and is less durable when steeped.

Therefore, although they come from the same tea tree, the quality of the leaves can vary greatly depending on the season they're harvested, naturally affecting their prices.

What Season Is Best for Drinking Puer Tea?

Puer tea can be enjoyed throughout the year. Choosing different types of Puer tea can benefit your health, but those suffering from insomnia should avoid drinking Puer tea at night to prevent sleep disturbances.

1. Spring: In spring, you can drink a mix of raw and ripe Puer teas or Puer tea that has undergone a certain degree of fermentation. After brewing, these teas are gentler and help dispel coldness from the body, promoting the generation of yang qi, which is beneficial for health.

2. Summer: Summer is hot, so drinking raw Puer tea is recommended. It helps cool the body, quench thirst, and alleviate heat and fire.

3. Autumn: Autumn is dry, so drinking Puer tea that is semi-fermented (between raw and ripe) can moisturize and reduce dryness, helping to clear heart fire.

4. Winter: Winter is the best time to drink ripe Puer tea, which is warmer and helps stimulate internal yang qi, providing warmth and protection against the cold.

Puer tea comes in raw, ripe, and semi-fermented varieties. Selecting the right type of Puer tea according to the season can achieve better health benefits. Those with cold stomachs should avoid raw Puer tea, while those with excessive internal heat should avoid ripe Puer tea.