Nowadays, living standards are improving, and more people are drinking Tea. However, finding good tea can be challenging, especially when it comes to Pu'er tea. Raw Pu'er tea has a dark green color, and high-quality raw tea has a golden-yellow, clear broth. Ripe Pu'er tea is reddish-brown, and good ripe tea has a bright red broth. There are many types of Pu'er tea, so how should we choose when purchasing?

How to Select High-Quality Pu'er Tea

1. Inspect the Appearance and Color

The first step in selecting Pu'er tea is to evaluate its appearance. This involves examining the dry tea's color and shape. Good Pu'er tea should have thick, uniform strands and a neat, clean appearance. Avoid any signs of mold; if there are mold spots on the surface of the tea, it indicates improper storage. Raw Pu'er tea, which is unfermented, has a fresh, light color with visible white down and appears deep green or dark green. Ripe tea, after fermentation, has a deeper color, turning into a reddish-brown.

2. Examine the Broth and Leaf Bottom

The color of the tea broth and the leaf bottom reflect the quality of the Pu'er tea's production process, storage duration, and storage method. Good Pu'er tea has a clear broth that varies in color from yellow, golden yellow, yellow-red, to chestnut red depending on the length of storage. The longer the storage time, the darker the color. Poor-quality tea will result in a murky broth.

The leaf bottom of Pu'er tea should not appear soft or discolored and should have an even color. If there are charred leaves or black, hard stems, this indicates that the temperature during the fixation process was too high or that the tea became moldy due to moisture.

Ripe Pu'er tea has a dark red or reddish-brown broth that is bright and transparent with a strong aroma. Aged teas have a richer, more intense fragrance. The leaf bottom of ripe tea is reddish-brown or even black.

The broth of raw tea is light yellow or golden yellow and clear, while ripe tea is dark red but slightly translucent. The leaf bottom of raw tea is full of vitality, displaying vibrant colors and resilience, allowing the drinker to experience its natural charm.

3. Savor the Aroma and Taste

Pu'er tea, after long-term drying and storage, develops a rich aroma that becomes more intense over time. Tea is “breathing” and can easily absorb other odors during storage, which can damage the taste. Regardless of how long the tea has been stored, even if it is over a hundred years old, it should not have a musty smell. If there is a musty smell, it indicates improper storage due to moisture or lack of ventilation.

In addition to using the above methods to assess the quality of Pu'er tea, consider your personal needs when choosing. Here are some factors that are often overlooked.

4. Health benefits

Pu'er tea is available as raw or ripe, and they have different health benefits. Consider these functional aspects when making your selection.

① Raw tea: Contains a large amount of polyphenols and has a fragrant flavor. It has a good effect for clearing heat, detoxifying, relieving summer heat, refreshing the mind, and quenching thirst. It is very suitable for drinking in the summer. However, raw tea is cold in nature, so it is not advisable to drink too much before bed as it may cause insomnia. People with a cold constitution should also avoid excessive consumption.

② Ripe tea: After fermentation, the tea loses its cold nature and produces enzymes. Therefore, ripe tea not only warms and nourishes the stomach, making it suitable for winter consumption, but it also has lipid-lowering effects. For those with high body fat who want to lose weight, ripe tea is a good choice. Additionally, due to the presence of enzymes, ripe tea offers benefits such as anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-aging properties, making it suitable for all ages and genders.

5. Purchasing Power

Pu'er tea is often referred to as “drinkable antiques.” As long as it is stored properly, it can last for decades or even centuries without issue, and the older the tea, the more fragrant and valuable it becomes. Because of this, Pu'er tea not only serves as a beverage but also has significant collection value, with high-priced auctions being common.

However, for most ordinary people, Drinking Tea is primarily to meet physical needs, enhance well-being, and improve the quality of life, rather than for collecting. Therefore, there is no need to adhere to the idea of “only buying the most expensive.” Instead, it's best to select Pu'er tea based on your actual circumstances.