Pu'er Tea is one of China's traditional famous teas, sought after in the tea market for its unique flavor and medicinal value. However, due to the wide variety of Pu'er teas and their varying quality, it can be challenging to distinguish high-quality Pu'er teas. So, how do you select high-quality Pu'er tea?

How to Select High-Quality Pu'er Tea?

1. Look at the Origin

Pu'er tea primarily originates from Lincang City, Pu'er City, and Xishuangbanna. Among these, the ancient six major tea mountains in Xishuangbanna, as well as the tea produced in areas like Hekai Mountain, Banzhang Mountain, Nannuo Mountain, Bulang Mountain in Menghai, and Jingmai Mountain in Lancang, are known for their relatively higher quality large-leaf sun-dried teas.

2. Look at the Brand

Brands such as China National Tea Corporation, Xiaguan, Rong's Tea from Mengku, Six Major Tea Mountains, Xinghai Tea Factory, Changtai Tea Factory, and Lancang Ancient Tea are widely recognized, and their Pu'er teas are generally more reliable in terms of quality.

Well-known brands tend to have higher standards for the safety and hygiene of tea production, quality control, and sales service, which allows them to survive in the competitive market. Try to avoid marketing teas that heavily advertise but do not focus on quality control, such as internet celebrity teas.

3. Examine the Appearance of the Tea Leaves

High-quality compressed Pu'er tea should have a uniform and neat appearance; the surface should be evenly sprinkled without falling apart; the thickness should be even with moderate tightness and substantiality; the leaves should be neatly compacted.

Raw teas should display visible white down, dark green, and a glossy appearance. For ripe teas, colors ranging from blackish-brown to reddish-brown are typical. Any sign of mold on the surface indicates inferior quality.

4. Smell the Aroma

A significant indicator of spoiled Pu'er tea is the presence of a musty odor, which is distinct from the aged aroma, one of the highest realms of Pu'er tea fragrance.

5. Taste

Tasting is a very reliable method, judging by mouthfeel, aftertaste, and throat comfort. High-quality tea has a rich, smooth, and soothing taste, with a sweet aftertaste, a refreshing sensation at the back of the tongue, and a comfortable throat feel. Lower-quality teas have a bland taste, no aftertaste, and an uncomfortable feeling at the sides of the tongue or even a choking sensation, causing bodily discomfort.

The quality of the tea can also be assessed by the color of the infusion and the texture of the infused leaves. Inferior Pu'er tea will produce a dark and cloudy infusion. High-quality infused leaves should feel elastic and tender when squeezed by hand.

The main factors affecting the quality of Pu'er tea include raw materials, processing methods, and storage conditions. We can judge its quality based on these three aspects. Additionally, proper brewing techniques, water choice, tea awakening skills, and home storage methods are also essential.

In addition to examining the appearance of the tea leaves, we can also use the color of the infusion and the origin of the tea to select high-quality tea. With these few skills, you won't have to worry about not being able to buy good tea!