For personal or household storage of Pu'er Tea, the basic requirements include avoiding direct sunlight, keeping in a cool place, ensuring there is no Odor or pollution, allowing proper ventilation, avoiding excessive humidity, and maintaining suitable temperatures.

How to Store Pu'er Tea at Home
1. **Avoiding Light and Staying Cool**
The chlorophyll (except for ripe tea), amino acids, and other components in tea leaves can be damaged by ultraviolet light when exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, leading to off-flavors and weakening or disappearance of the tea quality.
Even fluorescent lights without ultraviolet rays can degrade the tea quality, making it weak and lacking the original taste. Commonly, this is manifested as a lack of flavor and a bland taste when brewed.
Therefore, to prevent changes in flavor and quality, it's essential to store Pu'er tea away from light, at least avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight or other lights, so that it can age properly under good conditions and develop in a favorable direction.

2. **Avoiding Contamination with Odd Smells**
In the Ming dynasty, Wang Xiangjin summarized the preservation and storage of tea in three sentences in his work *The Book of Flowers*: “Tea likes warmth and dryness but dislikes cold and dampness; it likes coolness but dislikes heat and stagnation; it should be stored alone and away from fragrant or smelly substances.” In his book *Tea Interpretation*, Luo Lin also wrote: “Tea is promiscuous and easily contaminated. Regardless of pungent or odorous items, they must not be stored near tea. Even fragrant items should not be stored together.”
Tea readily absorbs odors. A handful of dried tea leaves will absorb any odd smells in the air. Smoking should be avoided in spaces where tea is stored, and the tea should be kept far away from bathrooms and kitchens, striving for a clean environment free of odd smells.

3. **Proper Ventilation and Avoiding Excessive Humidity**
The aging of Pu'er tea relies on subsequent transformation, which requires oxygen and moisture. Air circulation benefits the proliferation of microorganisms in the tea, thus accelerating its aging process. However, there should be a limit to the ventilation – excessive ventilation can cause the loss of the internal components of the tea, especially the aroma. Generally, 3 hours of ventilation is sufficient, and during long-term storage, complete airtight sealing should be avoided.

Many compounds in Pu'er tea are hydrophilic and can easily absorb moisture, causing the tea to become damp. Once damp, the moisture content of the Pu'er tea increases, and when it exceeds 8%, the tea will quickly deteriorate and mold if microorganisms grow. To preserve the true nature of the Pu'er tea, it should be stored in a cool and dry place.
4. **Suitable Temperature**
The temperature in the storage area for Pu'er tea should not be too high, and sudden temperature fluctuations should be avoided. The ideal range is between 20°C to 30°C. High temperatures can create a stuffy and hot environment, accelerating fermentation and causing the tea to turn sour. For every 10°C increase in temperature, the rate of browning in Pu'er tea accelerates, potentially affecting its quality.

Methods for Household Storage of Pu'er Tea
Location Selection:
1. **Avoiding Strong Odors:** Store your tea away from kitchens, bathrooms, and areas with cosmetics or medicines, as tea readily absorbs odors.
2. **Avoiding Moisture:** Choose an area that won't get damp. Dampness can lead to mold growth, which can change the taste or make the tea unpalatable. If your tea does get damp, you can dry it out by placing it in a well-ventilated area or in the sun.
3. **Storing Your Tea:** Find a clean, odor-free, dark, and relatively dry location, such as a study. Wrap your tea cakes in bamboo shells (if available) and place them in a clean, odor-free cardboard box. Seal the box with tape and store it on a shelf at least two levels up, away from walls and the floor.