Sun-dried Green Tea refers to raw Tea. It is made from the fresh leaves of large-Leaf tea trees in Yunnan, which are stir-fried, killed-green, and then sun-dried. This initial state of tea is also called raw tea. After steaming, pressing, and drying, it becomes raw Pu'er tea. After pile-fermentation, steaming, pressing, and drying, it becomes ripe Pu'er tea.

Sun-drying (a step in making Pu'er) and Sun-drying (sunlight drying, drying in a shed)

Sun-drying, also known as “sun-drying,” is a typical low-temperature drying method that is the final step in the preliminary processing of Pu'er tea. Abundant sunlight and ultraviolet rays are gifts of nature to Yunnan. The large-leaf tea tree of Yunnan and the highland's sunlight and ultraviolet rays are a perfect match. Together, they create the classic natural flavor of Pu'er tea.

Sun-drying involves laying out the rolled tea leaves directly under the sun until they are dried. The purpose of drying is to remove moisture from the tea, making it suitable for storage, with the dry tea containing around 10% water. As it is naturally sun-dried, it retains the possibility for active substances to grow. The dried tea leaves appear grayish-white or grayish-black, and the dry tea has an obvious “sunny” aroma. This scent is produced when chlorophyll, catechins, and other active substances are affected by ultraviolet rays. It is the most distinctive fragrance of sun-dried raw tea. The raw material for Pu'er tea is large-leaf sun-dried raw tea, and sun-drying is its core process. This is also the secret behind how Pu'er tea improves with age. This low-temperature drying method preserves the activity of enzymes in the tea, creating potential vitality for Pu'er tea to improve over time. Additionally, direct sunlight allows microorganisms in the air to adhere to the tea, achieving natural inoculation of microorganisms. This accumulates a large number of microorganisms for the subsequent aging or pile-fermentation of Pu'er tea. Therefore, the raw material for Pu'er tea is the most original and natural, fully retaining the flavors of nature.

(Sun-drying: Drying by direct sunlight. Under ideal conditions, drying in one day under direct sunlight yields the best taste.)

(Drying in a shed: Under less ideal conditions, such as during rain, the tea can be dried in a shed without affecting its taste. Although it takes longer to dry than under direct sunlight, the basic quality can still be guaranteed. In a shed, how can we optimize the entire sun-drying process? We should try to expose the tea to sunlight when possible and move it into the shed when it rains.)