Everyone knows that Pu'er Tea gets better with age, becoming more fragrant and fuller in taste. However, some tea enthusiasts have experienced their stored tea developing odd odors or even mold due to improper storage methods. As a tea lover, I'd like to share some insights and exchange ideas with you.

One: No Odd Odors

The place where you store your tea must be clean, free from any unusual smells.

Common household odors include cooking oil, perfume, and ink.

When storing tea, keep it away from these sources of Odor!

Two: Avoid Light Exposure

Avoid all light sources and ensure the storage area is completely dark.

Three: Temperature Control

In southern regions, the critical period is from June to late October. The maximum ambient temperature should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius for extended periods! Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can risk the tea developing an acidic taste!

Four: Humidity Control

In the south, the key time is during the plum rain season! Prepare in advance before the onset of this season! Replace desiccants, avoid opening the boxes frequently, and always monitor room humidity. Take appropriate measures! Humidity should not stay above 65% for long periods!

Five: Relatively Airtight Storage

Entire batches of tea can be sealed in corrugated cardboard boxes after the paper smell has dissipated.

For individual cakes, some people choose to seal them directly in kraft paper bags, which has significant drawbacks.

If the bags remain sealed without air exchange for too long, the tea may not necessarily become moldy, but it will lose its character. Over time, it will become increasingly astringent and may not undergo proper transformation!

The best approach is to leave a small gap at the seal of the kraft paper bag using a strip of paper or a toothpick!

This allows for subtle air exchange!

My concept of airtight storage is: relatively ventilated in the larger environment and relatively airtight in the smaller environment!

The larger environment refers to the space where you place the container (such as a cardboard box, jar, or desiccator) being relatively ventilated, while the container holding the tea should be relatively airtight!

For tea storage, without the risk of mold, achieving the right taste requires factors such as temperature, humidity, and air exchange. So, handle tea storage with care! Did you learn something new?