Identifying the age of Pu'er Tea has always been a challenge. It is said that even some “aged teas” have fooled many experts and embarrassed numerous masters in the tea industry.
A lot can change with Pu'er tea over the years due to factors like location, environment, and storage methods, leading to varying results. And we haven't even mentioned the artificially aged teas made through dubious means!
Even when judging the age of a properly stored aged tea, we should avoid making hasty conclusions or declaring definitively “this tea is from a certain year.” If such a statement happens to be correct, I would consider it more of a lucky guess.
How to Distinguish the Age of Pu'er Ripened Tea
(1) For ripened teas aged 1-3 years, it's relatively simple to tell them apart. A prominent heap smell and murky liquor color are the main characteristics of this period. For Pu'er tea produced using normal fermentation techniques, if the heap smell is not prominent and the liquor is relatively clear, it simply indicates that the seller has allowed some aging before release. Why does new ripened tea have a murky liquor? One somewhat irresponsible but accurate answer is: because it's new ripened tea. The so-called third-generation Pu'er tea fermentation technique, which uses yeast fermentation, seems to have improved this aspect; the liquor color is clearer, and the heap smell is light or absent. However, the downside is that there isn't much tea flavor.
(2) For Pu'er teas aged 3-7 years, I believe they are drinkable Pu'er teas. Drinking them within three years can indeed cause an issue, as many people find them to be heat-inducing. With 3-7 years of age, the heap smell can generally be ignored; the tea liquor is clear, and after awakening the tea, there are no off-flavors, and some may exhibit a subtle aged aroma.
(3) For ripened teas aged 7-15 years. At this stage, the primary basis for distinguishing them is usually the intensity of their aged aroma. Higher-grade teas, like palace-grade teas, may exhibit a lotus fragrance, while those made from coarser leaves might present a jujube or medicinal herb aroma. A clear liquor color is essential, resembling Rose red like wine. For teas at this stage, if you cannot distinguish them based on taste, you must also consider the packaging paper and storage conditions to make a comprehensive judgment of their age. Even then, it's not entirely accurate. For precise determination, you would need to compare it with the production records of the manufacturer.
The above roughly introduces the methods for distinguishing the age of Pu'er ripened tea. Now you should know how to identify them. However, when drinking Pu'er ripened tea, if it's just for everyday consumption, there's no need to excessively pursue the age; one should approach it rationally. Of course, regardless of anything else, as long as you enjoy it, that's what matters.