A Liubao Tea made from good raw materials and crafted with excellent techniques will become better over time with proper storage, enhancing its Health benefits and increasing its value. Whether for personal consumption, sharing with guests, or trading on the market, understanding how to properly store Liubao tea is essential knowledge for enthusiasts.

Precautions for Storing Tea

1. Dryness

In environments with a relative humidity above 85%, long-term storage of Liubao tea can easily cause the tea to mold and spoil, creating what we often call damp-warehouse tea. Therefore, the ideal humidity for storing tea should be between 40% and 70%. However, this range is not absolute, and brief deviations should not pose any problems.

2. Cool and Avoid Light

The temperature in the storage area should not be too high, ideally not exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Additionally, Liubao tea should not be exposed to direct sunlight or artificial light for extended periods, as this can cause the tea to become sour and spoil. Therefore, the room where tea is stored should use slightly thick curtains to block out light, and the containers holding the tea should also be shielded from direct sunlight.

3. Moderate Ventilation

Moderate ventilation involves two aspects: first, the environment where the tea is stored must be adequately ventilated; second, the tea itself needs to breathe moderately. In other words, the room where tea is stored should not be completely sealed. A small window can remain open continuously, or the windows can be opened for short periods when the air is relatively dry. Containers such as purple clay jars, earthenware jars, or corrugated cardboard boxes allow some degree of air circulation, so maintaining room ventilation is sufficient.

4. Free from Odors and Contamination

Free from odors means that the room and containers used for storing tea should not have any unusual smells. Therefore, do not burn mosquito coils, spray insecticides, offer incense, or engage in activities that introduce perfumes, soaps, or other fragrances into the storage area. Free from contamination means that the room and containers should not be exposed to chemical or heavy metal pollutants.

Specific Steps for Storing Tea:

Step 1: Store the tea by vintage year, using double-layer or multi-layer corrugated cardboard boxes. If purchased in bulk, leave the tea in its original packaging without opening it.

In addition to corrugated cardboard boxes, suitable containers for storing tea include purple clay jars, Yixing clay jars, bamboo baskets, and wooden boxes. Before use, clean these containers thoroughly to remove any off-flavors that may have developed during the firing process.

Note: Fragrant boxes such as camphorwood, agarwood, rosewood, and fragrant rosewood should not be used for storing Liubao tea.

Step 2: Purchase some wooden shelves or planks, with a height of about 10 centimeters. Place the tea boxes on these shelves or planks, keeping them elevated from the ground and walls.

Step 3: Prepare several hygrometers and thermometers, placing them in different corners of the storage room and on top of the tea boxes. Regularly check the temperature and humidity levels, aiming for a temperature range of around 15°C to 35°C and a humidity level between 40% and 70%.

Tip: How to store tea during humid weather and the rainy season?

To reduce humidity, place charcoal or bamboo charcoal in various corners of the storage room. Keep the windows closed during humid weather and open them only when the weather is clear and dry. In the dry seasons of the north, you can place a basin of water indoors to increase humidity, but remember to change the water frequently. If it's particularly humid, wrap the outer layer of the tea boxes with cotton paper to prevent moisture from seeping in. Remove the wrapping and ventilate the tea when the weather clears up.

Conclusion:

The environment for storing Liubao tea should follow natural principles, avoiding excessive human intervention. An environment that feels comfortable to us is also suitable for the tea.

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