I. Distinction Between Terrace Tea and Old Arboreal Tree Tea

Terrace Tea

Terrace tea refers to tea planted in rows with dense planting, arranged in terraces on mountainsides or slopes, managed using modern management practices, and aimed at achieving high yields. From this concise definition, terrace tea is a neutral term without negative connotations. Tea planted between the 1960s and 1980s is called contour strip plantations, propagated by seeds. Starting from the 1980s, densely planted and fast-growing tea gardens were promoted, often propagated through vegetative cuttings.

Extended Definition: The cultivation and management model of terrace tea aims for high yield. To achieve this, densely planted terrace tea is pruned annually to encourage more shoots. For higher yields, additional sunlight is needed, so other plants are not typically retained in terrace tea gardens, leading to a monoculture that weakens the tree's resistance to pests and diseases, necessitating pesticide application when infestations occur. The lack of plant diversity also means there is insufficient organic matter in the soil, so artificial fertilizers are applied to stimulate growth. Terrace tea is primarily found in plains, low mountains, and hills. Depending on the method of planting, it can be divided into seed-propagated terrace tea with an obvious main trunk and root system, and shrub-like terrace tea propagated from branches with less prominent trunks and roots.

Old Arboreal Tree Tea

Old arboreal tree tea refers to tea trees that grow as arboreal forms, sparsely distributed, often coexisting with forests, growing naturally with minimal human intervention, no use of pesticides or fertilizers, or very little of either, resulting in low-yielding trees and gardens. Old arboreal tree tea is predominantly found at altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 meters. Traditionally, trees over 100 years old are referred to as ancient, while those over 50 years are called old. Among arboreal trees, there are wild, tamed, transitional, and cultivated types. Wild trees often have toxic properties and should be protected rather than harvested for consumption. Tamed and transitional types are limited in number and should also be protected, not promoted. The old arboreal tree tea used for making Pu'er tea and for collection is mainly the cultivated type.

The value and price of old arboreal tree tea continue to rise, while the price of terrace tea remains stagnant, excluding factors of speculation. Key considerations include the quality, taste, and presence of pesticide residues. Comparing old arboreal tree tea with terrace tea helps identify directions for improving terrace tea.

1. Influence of Age Differences

Due to their age, old tree teas have well-developed and deep-rooted systems, absorbing more nutrients and trace elements compared to newly planted tea. As a result, old tree teas exhibit stronger aroma and flavor, lower bitterness and astringency, greater sweetness and smoothness, and higher durability during Steeping. The relationship between age and quality can be explained using the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine: the longer the age of ginseng, polygonum multiflorum, and others, the better their medicinal effects.

2. Impact of Management Practices and Harvesting Volume

Compared to arboreal tea trees, pruned and managed terrace tea trees have a larger harvestable area and higher yield under the same ecological, climatic, and soil conditions. Under similar conditions, if an arboreal tree produces 500 grams of tea per year, a pruned tree could produce 1,000 grams or even more. The difference in harvesting volume inevitably leads to disparities in the internal content and quality of the tea, with arboreal tea significantly outperforming high-yield terrace tea.

3. Influence of Tea Garden Ecological Environment

Old arboreal tree tea is typically found coexisting with forests or in tea gardens surrounded by good forest environments. Tea trees growing in forested areas experience fewer pest problems due to the natural balance among various organisms, minimizing the need for pesticides. In contrast, terrace tea gardens usually lack a good ecological environment, and without the presence of forests, they may face pest issues, leading to potential pesticide residues.

In tea gardens with forests, the abundance of decaying plant matter provides rich organic matter for the tea trees. In gardens without forests, there is a lack of organic matter, necessitating the use of fertilizers to boost yields, introducing chemical fertilizer issues. There is a noticeable difference in quality between naturally fertilized tea and artificially fertilized tea, similar to the distinction between feed-raised chickens and free-range chickens, or vegetables grown with chemical fertilizers versus those grown with organic fertilizers.

In tea gardens with forests, the coexistence of tea trees with various other plants enhances the mountainous and wild character and accentuates the tea's aroma. Recent studies have shown that tea trees perform better with about 30% shade coverage.

4. Influence of Altitude

Most old arboreal tree teas are found at elevations between 1,400 and 1,800 meters, where the tea contains richer internal substances and exhibits stronger aroma and flavor. Terrace tea, which grows in plains or low mountain slopes, generally has fewer internal substances and weaker aroma and flavor.

II. Is Terrace Tea Truly Inferior to Arboreal or Old Tree Tea?

This question delves into a bottomless pit of time, location, and tea regions. Any comparison requires a clear premise. It is unwise to make blanket statements about one type of tea being inferior to another, given the multitude of influencing factors. If a tea shop owner persistently praises one type of tea while belittling others without cause, you should be wary—they might be trying to mislead you.

In the absence of the ability to distinguish between terrace tea and arboreal or wild tea, choose what is right for you, not necessarily what is expensive.

The price difference between terrace and old tree teas is based on quality? This is an irresponsible statement. The price of terrace tea from Ban Zhang, for example, may exceed that of arboreal tea from some other regions. One factor is the inherent quality of the tea leaves, and the other is the issue of yield. The reason arboreal tea commands a higher price is mainly due to its limited supply. Rarity drives up prices, and many people vie for the limited amount of arboreal or old tree raw materials, making it unsurprising that the price is high. A definitive judgment on quality requires scientific testing and analysis.

Whether it's old, arboreal, or terrace tea, it's all about personal preference. If you seek sensory satisfaction beyond taste and health, opt for rare old tree or arboreal tea, but only if you truly understand Pu'er…

III. How to Distinguish Pu'er Ancient Tree Tea from Terrace Tea Based on Appearance?

Generally, due to sufficient nutrients from fertilization, terrace tea has long internodes. Ancient tree tea, especially wild ancient trees, has relatively insufficient nutrients, resulting in short internodes. Some ancient tree teas have unique characteristics; for instance, Yi Wu's large trees have a significant distance between buds and leaves. Yi Bang tea has delicate twigs, while Ban Zhang tea displays abundant white downy hair and plump buds. To summarize:

Ancient Tree Tea

Typically, ancient tree tea is picked with one bud and two or three leaves, sometimes even four leaves. The basis of picking is tenderness, so the tea leaves show varying lengths, with “hoof marks” occasionally appearing at the broken ends. Ancient tree tea is highly durable when steeped. The tea leaves often have irregular shapes, with one-bud-two-leaf and one-bud-three-leaf combinations, and even older leaves. However, the stems in the leaf beds appear tender. Certain regions have distinct characteristics, such as the long distance between buds and leaves in Yi Wu's large trees, the delicate twigs in Yi Bang tea, and the abundant white downy hair and plump buds in Ban Zhang tea. There is no grading system for the picking and acquisition of ancient tree tea—all tea made is labeled as ancient tree tea.

Terrace Tea

Terrace tea plants are relatively short, and the picking method involves using both hands. There are strict standards for picking, with many major manufacturers specifying the grade of tea leaves they will purchase. If the standard is one bud and one leaf, only that specific combination is picked. Therefore, judging from the leaf beds, overly tender leaves that appear entirely white with young buds are typically terrace tea. Furthermore, leaves that are excessively uniform and neatly arranged are also indicative of terrace tea. The picking and acquisition of terrace tea are graded, including tip tea (super-grade tea), first to tenth-grade tea, and so forth. (The length and uniformity of different grades of terrace tea can vary, but distinctions can be made based on the appearance of the leaf beds.)