Sun-drying is one of the core processes in the production of Pu'er tea. This low-temperature process ensures that there are sufficient active substances and microorganisms preserved in the raw tea, which forms the foundation for Pu'er tea's characteristic of becoming more fragrant with age.

What Does Sun-Drying Mean in Pu'er Tea?

Sun-drying is the most significant difference between the production process of Pu'er tea and other teas, and it is also crucial for the formation of Pu'er tea's unique flavor. The temperature of the sun is around 30-40 degrees Celsius. This temperature is the most favorable for active enzymes. Naturally dried tea leaves retain approximately 10% cellular moisture. This moisture ratio ensures the activity of the enzymes but is not enough to promote microbial growth, thus preventing the tea from molding. Other teas are dried at over 100 degrees Celsius, which essentially kills the active enzymes in the tea. The moisture content of these high-temperature dried teas is below 7%, losing the conditions necessary for transformation.

The aroma produced by high temperatures in other teas is mainly formed through high-temperature Roasting and frying, which can easily dissipate. These teas must be sealed, and even stored under vacuum and refrigerated conditions. Sun-drying in Pu'er tea ensures that the tea can continue to transform over time. Simultaneously, sunlight triggers complex biochemical reactions within the tea, forming its unique flavor and allowing the tea to be preserved for a long time. During this preservation process, internal reactions continue for an extended period, and the unique aroma of Pu'er tea is continuously released, lasting for many years.

If the sun is too bright, the tea can be dried within a day, but such quick-dried tea leaves a green color on the surface and the Leaf base, so it is best to use scattered light, i.e., covering about 30% of the sunlight using shade nets or other devices.

During the Spring Tea season, if you visit the tea mountains, you will see tea leaves spread out to dry in courtyards, along roadsides, and on rooftops. Drying naturally in the sun is currently the best drying method. After the tea leaves have been kneaded, they are naturally sun-dried, preserving the maximum amount of organic matter and active substances. The surface cells of sun-dried tea leaves have the largest pores, which is beneficial for producing a large amount of heat during fermentation.

Differences Between Sun-Dried and Oven-Dried Pu'er Tea

1. Color of the Infusion: Oven-dried Pu'er tea has a greenish infusion color, while sun-dried Pu'er tea has a yellowish infusion color.

2. Transformation of Internal Substances: Oven-drying destroys the activity of enzymes in the tea, preventing further transformation and stabilizing various properties. Sun-drying, on the other hand, does not destroy the activity of the substances within the tea, allowing for changes under specific conditions later on.

3. Aroma: Oven-dried Pu'er tea has a strong aroma with a slight Sweetness and a roasted flavor; sun-dried Pu'er tea has a more natural aroma.

4. Leaf Base: Oven-dried Pu'er tea has a green leaf base, or light green or green-yellow. Sun-dried Pu'er tea typically has a dark green leaf base.

5. Taste: Oven-dried Pu'er tea, due to the destruction of its active substances during the drying process, has a refreshing taste with less astringency, a short-lasting flavor, and is not very resistant to brewing. Sun-dried Pu'er tea, on the other hand, has a rich and full-bodied taste, a strong and stimulating character, a significant and long-lasting return to sweetness and salivation, and a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth.

6. Collection Value: Oven-dried Pu'er tea is not suitable for collection as it lacks the active substances necessary for transformation. Aged oven-dried tea has a very faint aroma and a monotonous, dry, and dull taste, making it better suited for immediate consumption. Sun-dried Pu'er tea, however, becomes more beautiful over time. After aging, sun-dried Pu'er tea becomes even more captivating, with a smooth and mellow taste, a warmer and more nourishing character, and a fresh aroma that lingers in the mouth, throat, nostrils, and room, with a full-bodied flavor. The return to sweetness and salivation is also more persistent.