Although raw tea and ripe tea both belong to the Pu-erh tea category, can these two different types of tea be stored together? To answer this, we first need to understand the differences in the production processes of raw and ripe Pu-erh tea.

Raw tea refers to freshly picked tea leaves that are naturally aged without artificial "fermentation" or "pile-fermentation" processing. However, they are processed and shaped into various forms (such as cake tea, brick tea, or tuo tea). Raw tea has a stronger and more stimulating character, with a bitter and astringent taste when newly made or shortly stored. Its liquor color is lighter or yellow-green. Over long-term storage, its aroma becomes richer and more mellow.

Ripe tea is made from sun-dried Yunnan large-leaf tea leaves that undergo pile-fermentation and other processing techniques. Ripe Pu-erh tea has a reddish-brown color, a pure and smooth taste, and a unique aged aroma. Due to its mild nature and health benefits, ripe Pu-erh tea is highly popular.

Raw and ripe Pu-erh teas are two distinct types with entirely different qualities and styles. They should never be stored together.

The main reasons are as follows:

The aroma profiles of raw and ripe Pu-erh teas differ and evolve over time. Raw tea typically exhibits fragrances such as floral, fresh, chestnut, or aged notes, while ripe tea often has aromas like ginseng, aged, lotus, jujube, or camphor. If stored together, the aromatic compounds will cross-absorb, masking or altering each other, making it difficult to maintain the pure and natural aroma of either type. This reduces the tea's collectible value.

The color of the tea leaves (residue) also differs between raw and ripe teas. Raw tea leaves darken over time, transitioning from tender green to yellow, apricot, dark yellow, yellowish-brown, and reddish-brown. In contrast, well-fermented ripe tea leaves usually appear "liver-colored" and gradually turn dark brown with prolonged storage.

In summary, these two types of tea should not be stored together. Mixing them will compromise the aging process and diminish their value. Therefore, they must be stored separately. Regardless of the type of tea, it is best not to store different varieties together, primarily because tea easily absorbs surrounding odors, which can affect its quality.