The compressed Puer Tea is collectively known as Compressed tea. Compressed form is the most common presentation of Puer tea, but this does not mean that Puer tea cannot also be in loose form. But why is Puer tea made into compressed form?

This is determined by the characteristic of Puer tea to improve with age through post-fermentation.

Advantages of Loose Leaf:

1. The integrity of the leaves is preserved. By observing the appearance of the tea leaves, we can better judge the quality of the tea.

2. Faster aging. With a lower density and larger gaps, loose leaf tea has ample contact with air, leading to a faster oxidation rate.

3. Convenient for drinking. brewing is more effortless, and the amount of tea can be well controlled, ensuring no waste of leaves, making it very suitable for daily consumption.

4. Original flavor is better preserved. After compression, compressed tea undergoes high-temperature steaming, which is akin to another round of fermentation, whereas loose leaf tea does not, thus preserving more of the original flavor of the tea.

Disadvantages of Loose Leaf:

1. Takes up more space and is less convenient for storage. Compared to the same quantity of compressed tea, loose leaf requires more space.

2. Aroma dissipates quickly. While ample contact with air is beneficial, it also means that the tea's aroma will evaporate more quickly.

3. Shorter storage time. This is due to the rapid aging and aroma dispersion, which means loose leaf does not have as long a shelf life as compressed tea.

Advantages of Compressed Tea:

1. Easier to store and transport. As mentioned earlier, compressed tea takes up less space and is easier to transport, making it useful for trade purposes.

2. Better suited for long-term preservation. Many people seek the aged flavor of Puer tea, and there is even a trend of collecting it, all thanks to compressed tea. Compressed tea prevents the leaves from oxidizing too quickly and helps retain the aroma of the tea within.

Disadvantages of Compressed Tea:

Inconvenience in brewing. This might be the biggest downside of compressed Puer tea. When I first started drinking compressed tea, I was not adept at breaking it apart, and my clumsiness was appalling. Either I would break off a large chunk or crush the leaves into tiny pieces, which was heartbreaking to see. Some particularly clumsy individuals even injured themselves using tea knives or tea needles.

Whether storing in loose form or in cakes, each method has its pros and cons. If you have good storage containers and conditions, and are storing for your own taste, cakes are a traditional method that has been passed down over generations. Cakes undergo transformation during long-term storage. After a period of transformation, the taste improves, and this is true for raw teas as well. Loose leaf storage allows for faster transformation and retains a more original tea character.

Whether storing loose or in cakes, it varies from person to person, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.