How to store Pu'er Tea correctly? In recent years, the number of people buying Pu'er tea has been growing, and in addition to its drinking value, the deep cultural value and the charming quality of getting better with age are also reasons why many people buy and collect Pu'er tea. So how does one store Pu'er tea personally?

How to Store Pu'er Tea Personally

1. Moisture Prevention

The main condition for tea to mold is moisture; as long as it stays dry, it won't mold, but without some humidity, the tea won't undergo transformation. If the environment is too dry, you can place a Cup of water to increase the humidity, which benefits the natural transformation of the tea. When the rainy season arrives and the humidity is high, you can close the windows and doors appropriately to block out dampness. The tea should be stored off the ground, away from walls and floors. The tea should be placed on shelves at a distance from the ground and walls to prevent dampness. Place a thermometer and hygrometer where you store the tea, and the relative humidity of the environment should not exceed 80%. If possible, have a dehumidifier on standby or use an air conditioner to reduce humidity.

2. Avoiding Light

Strong light can destroy the contents within the tea. Storing tea requires protection from direct sunlight. Tea should be kept in a relatively dark environment, and the room where tea is stored should have curtains with blackout liners. Opened tea can be stored in thick kraft paper bags. If the tea is to be stored long-term, it's best to keep it in the original box without dividing it, preserving the complete bamboo shell, and controlling the environmental humidity.

3. Clean Environment

Tea has a very strong adsorptive capacity and can absorb odors from the air, so the storage environment must be clean and Odor-free to ensure perfect transformation of the tea. Freshly made ripe tea can have a dry fire smell and a pile flavor, so ripe tea under two years old should not be stored together with raw tea; store them separately.

4. Moderate Ventilation

To bring fresh air and moisture to the tea, the room where tea is stored should be ventilated occasionally, but for short periods. Excessive ventilation can cause the tea aroma to dissipate, so when storing tea, ensure that most of the time, the tea is in a relatively sealed, non-breathable environment. The room where the tea is stored should mostly have its doors and windows closed, trapping the scattered aroma indoors. Tea stored in purple clay jars tends to develop a rich aroma, but due to inadequate ventilation, the aging process may be slower; during storage, you can increase ventilation times appropriately.

For teas older than 20 years, it is recommended to store them in a sealed container. Excessive ventilation can lead to loss of tea quality, and it is best to store them sealed. The optimal period for tea transformation is 10 years, after which the internal quality of the tea gradually diminishes.

Under limited conditions, the most important point is to prevent moisture. Dampness and mold are a big no-no for tea. Next, prevent the tea from absorbing surrounding odors; keep it far from areas like kitchens and bathrooms where odors are strong. Raw and ripe teas must be stored separately, and raw teas from different mountain regions should be organized and stored separately. Ripe tea can be sealed and stored during humid seasons and ventilated during dry seasons. Both raw and ripe teas need to be ventilated regularly to ensure good transformation. It is not recommended to store loose tea personally, as storage conditions are limited, and loose tea can easily absorb foreign odors and become damp. Compressed cakes, bricks, and tuos are smaller and easier to store, and their compressed form creates a relatively enclosed environment that is more conducive to the transformation of the tea and better demonstrates the characteristic of Pu'er tea becoming more fragrant with age.