Pu-erh tea differs from other tea types primarily due to its characteristic of "improving with age," which also gives it value beyond immediate consumption—storage and collection. However, tea enthusiasts often unknowingly fall into traps when collecting Pu-erh. How many of these misconceptions have you encountered?

Misconception 1: Collection carries risks—avoid blind following

Pu-erh tea collectors generally fall into three categories: those who store tea because they enjoy drinking it, those who collect it for investment and appreciation, and those who both enjoy drinking it and store it in hopes of future value increase.

When collecting Pu-erh tea, keep the following three points in mind:

First: Investment carries risks. Approach Pu-erh tea's potential appreciation rationally and avoid blind speculation.

Second: Selecting Pu-erh tea requires corresponding tasting skills and knowledge. If you choose inferior tea, no amount of storage will enhance its value.

Third: Learn how to properly store the Pu-erh tea you purchase; otherwise, improper storage could lead to losses.

Misconception 2: Famous mountains are excellent, but prices are steep

Lao Ban Zhang, Bing Dao, Xi Gui, Bo He Tang, Yi Wu... These mountain teas are well-known among Pu-erh enthusiasts. Due to unique climates, altitudes, and soil conditions, these mountain teas produce distinctive and exceptional flavors, earning them high praise. However, we must acknowledge that these famous mountain teas are really, really—expensive!

The principle of rarity dictating value holds true across time. While mountain teas, especially ancient tree teas, offer outstanding flavors, their yields are low, and prices are high. Therefore, consider your financial situation carefully. Whether storing or drinking tea, the goal is to enhance our quality of life. If collecting tea instead lowers our living standards, wouldn’t that be missing the point?

Misconception 3: Blending isn’t inferior; single-origin has potential

The debate between blended and single-origin teas has persisted for a long time. Blending reflects human craftsmanship, while single-origin teas are gifts of nature. Even ancient tree single-origin teas vary in quality. Blending is an art that compensates for the raw material’s shortcomings, combining strengths to offset weaknesses—not a haphazard mix. Historically, century-old Song Pin and classic Red Mark teas are blended, proving this point. A major advantage of single-origin teas lies in the predictability of their aging under proper storage conditions.

Misconception 4: Blind pursuit of aged tea

Under proper storage, Pu-erh tea can "improve with age," but achieving sufficient mellowness requires time—it cannot be rushed. Some unscrupulous merchants, capitalizing on tea lovers’ pursuit of aged tea, produce artificially aged counterfeit teas. Beyond the questionable taste, some fake aged teas processed through improper storage contain harmful molds like aflatoxin, posing health risks.

Misconception 5: Older isn’t always better for Pu-erh tea

Everything follows a cycle of growth and decline—stars in the sky, our planet, and even Pu-erh tea. Currently, the oldest known Pu-erh tea is the Golden Melon Tribute Tea stored in the Forbidden City, over a century old. Deng Shihai, in his book Pu-erh Tea, describes it as: "The liquor has color, but the tea flavor has faded, becoming thin." This shows that, in terms of taste, Pu-erh tea does not necessarily improve indefinitely with age, so there’s no need to obsess over extreme aging.

The above are just common misconceptions in Pu-erh tea collection. Fellow tea lovers, what pitfalls have you encountered or insights have you gained in collecting Pu-erh? Share them with us!