Storing new and old teas together goes against the basic principles of tea storage. Not only should new and old teas be kept separately, but it is also advisable to "sort by batch, categorize, and store with appropriate isolation" to minimize cross-contamination between different types of tea during storage.

New and old teas should be treated differently. Teas of the same type but from different years should ideally be stored separately to prevent "old tea from tainting the new." However, a small amount of aged tea can be stored with new tea to introduce beneficial microbes and accelerate the aging process.

For collectors with the means, teas of the same type and year but different forms (loose-leaf or compressed) can be organized, stored, and aged together, ensuring clear "batch" distinctions in their collection.

For enthusiasts who cannot meet these ideal storage conditions, efforts should still be made to minimize mixing and contamination between different types of tea during storage.

Related link: The Benefits of Golden Flower Pu-erh Tea