For Tea enthusiasts, Pu'er tea should be a very familiar type of tea. In the eyes of connoisseurs, the production process of Pu'er tea is complex, and the quality requirements for the tea leaves are extremely high. Therefore, any stored Pu'er tea, after withstanding the test of time, is already excellent enough just for appreciation. However, if one really wants to take out Pu'er teas of different years for tasting, there are some common facts to understand. Would storing Pu'er teas of different years together affect their quality?

Notes on Storing Pu'er Tea

The aroma types of raw and ripe Pu'er teas differ, and both have the characteristic of changing over time as they are stored. Raw Pu'er teas often feature Orchid, fresh, plum, and woody aromas; ripe Pu'er teas are characterized by ginseng, jujube, lotus, and camphor aromas. Due to the differences in their aroma types, if raw and ripe Pu'er teas are mixed and stored together, the aroma substances will inevitably cross-absorb, masking or altering each other, making it difficult to obtain a pure and natural aroma.

The Leaf bases of raw and ripe teas also differ. The color of raw tea's leaf base changes from light green to light yellow, apricot yellow, dark yellow, brownish yellow, reddish brown, and so on as storage time increases. The leaf bases of well-fermented ripe Pu'er teas are generally a “liver color,” gradually turning darker brown over time as the storage years increase. If raw and ripe Pu'er teas are mixed and stored together, the scattered leaves will become intermingled, making the leaf base “mottled” and affecting the value of the stored tea.

For collectors who have the conditions, since the basic styles of the same type of Pu'er tea (such as ripe or raw Pu'er) are similar, teas of the same year but different forms (loose tea or Compressed tea) can be organized, collected, and stored together to keep the batches distinct. Teas of the same type but different years should ideally be stored separately to prevent old teas from acquiring new flavors. However, a small amount of aged tea can be stored with new tea to facilitate the “inoculation” of beneficial microorganisms, accelerating aging.

Pu'er teas of different years cannot be stored together. Similarly, even other ordinary teas cannot be stored together. Regardless of the type of tea, we need to store them separately to avoid flavor mixing. When storing tea, a little extra care is all that is needed.

How Should Pu'er Tea Be Stored?

Generally speaking, storing tea requires meeting three conditions: low temperature, ventilation, and sealed. Sealing prevents oxidation by outside air, while ventilation disperses odors. Low temperature inhibits the activity of enzymes in the tea. By preparing according to these three conditions, tea can generally be stored for a longer period. In addition, when storing tea, new tea should be kept far away from old tea, so that the quality of the tea is not affected when taking portions. Also, once opened, packaged tea should be used up as soon as possible to prevent prolonged exposure to air, which would accelerate spoilage.

When storing Pu'er tea, note the following: no strong odors nearby. Not too much light, and definitely no direct sunlight. Store concentratedly. Moderate ventilation. Normal room temperature and humidity are sufficient.