It is advisable to try before you buy. After all, Tea is an agricultural product meant for consumption; appearance and stories are secondary—the taste is what truly matters.

How to Buy Pu'er Tea for Beginners

1. Observe

1) Look at the dry leaves

The dry leaves should be examined for their shape, color, and the age of the leaves. Good quality dry leaves should be stout, clean, covered in fine hairs (or “hairs”), and free from impurities. The color should have a lustrous sheen and be uniform.

2) Observe the liquor color

The color of the liquor varies with the age of the Pu'er tea. For example, newly made raw Pu'er tea should have a greenish-yellow or yellow-green liquor, which may appear slightly cloudy due to the presence of fine hairs (“hairy turbidity”). This is normal as long as the cloudiness is not caused by poor processing or brewing techniques. Raw Pu'er teas aged 3-5 years should have a golden and clear liquor, while those around 10 years old should exhibit an orange-red or golden hue that is clear and bright.

2. Smell

This includes smelling both the dry leaves and the tea liquor (through hot, cold, and warm sniffing of the tasting Cup or aroma cup to assess the aroma's intensity and longevity). High-quality dry leaves should emit a pure scent without any pungent or odd odors. The aroma should be strong and lasting, and during tasting, one can experience different layers of fragrance, such as water containing the aroma, the aroma blending with the water, and the water producing the aroma.

Of course, the aroma of Pu'er tea should not be overpowering (it might be artificially added “tea fragrance”), and naturally occurring tea aromas are not cloyingly fragrant.

3. Taste

Tasting is the most critical part of selecting tea. High-quality tea (specifically referring to raw Pu'er tea here) should have a full-bodied flavor, high stability and coordination, a strong mouthfeel with a lingering aftertaste, and a robust qi. It should leave rich aromas like floral, fruity, or honey notes in the mouth, which last for a long time. Additionally, the tea liquor should have a high level of steepability, and after drinking, it should leave a clear and pleasant throat sensation.

4. Examine the infused leaves

High-quality tea will have plump and even infused leaves with a uniform color, minimal variation, high tenderness, and good resilience.

5. Avoid blindly chasing famous regions and ancient tree teas

Newcomers often lack basic knowledge about tea or are unfamiliar with the Pu'er tea market, leading them to purchase subpar teas. Therefore, it is recommended that tea enthusiasts start with reasonably priced, high-value-for-money daily drinking teas and lesser-known regional teas. Once they develop a sense of taste and improve their ability to appreciate tea, they can then choose teas based on personal preferences and purchasing power, avoiding pitfalls in buying tea.

What Brand Should Beginners Choose When Buying Pu'er Tea?

Dayi is a benchmark brand in ripe Pu'er teas.

Dayi tea belongs to Menghai Tea Factory, established in 1989, and officially launched its “Dayi” branded seven-son cakes in 1993. Dayi tea tends to be more expensive due to its aged character and superior taste, making it suitable for storage and collection with potential for appreciation in value.

One of the more classic teas from Dayi Pu'er is the 7572 benchmark ripe tea and the 7542 benchmark raw tea, which are particularly suitable for beginners. Starting with small cakes is cost-effective, and if you find the taste unsuitable initially, you won't feel like you've wasted your money. Whether choosing ripe or raw Pu'er, it's not recommended to buy large quantities at first. If you enjoy the taste, you can purchase larger quantities later.

For newcomers starting out with Pu'er tea, it is essential to choose products from well-established brands. While many experienced tea drinkers may find Dayi to be standard, Dayi's benchmark teas offer consistent quality, providing a good foundation for beginners.