Entering the elegant world of Pu-erh tea is a joy. But for newcomers, how should one get started? Today, we'll discuss this topic. Generally,入门Pu-erh tea involves going through the following three stages.
First Stage:求知Stage
This stage is mainly for those who have tasted Pu-erh tea, have some interest in it, and want to explore further. At this point, people are still in a懵懂phase, unsure of what Pu-erh tea truly is and what it should taste like.
Our suggestion is to patiently drink at least half a cake each of ripe tea and raw tea, such as ripe tea's "Zangxiang Cake" and raw tea's "Gaoshan Cake." However, while drinking these, keep in mind that they are chosen as入门teas not because they are the best, but because they are well-balanced in all aspects. Drinking them is to understand what Pu-erh raw and ripe teas should taste like, establishing a standard for正确认识Pu-erh.
Do not start with high-end teas right away, as they may not be perfect in every aspect; some优点might be突出while others have shortcomings. Starting with them could affect establishing a correct taste standard.
Additionally, while drinking, learn about Pu-erh's history, origin, and production process. For example, tea culture, the six major tea categories, Pu-erh large-leaf variety, purple clay teapots, etc.
Second Stage:探索Stage
After the first stage of learning, when you have a more specific understanding of Pu-erh tea, you can enter the second stage. Here, we should learn two things.
First, learn about how Pu-erh tea's taste transforms with aging. Our suggestion is to try teas from different years, such as raw teas like the 2007 "Private Reserve No. 1" or 2010 "Cloud Mist," and ripe teas like the 2012 "Ancient Charm." If interested, you can even purchase a whole七子饼cake, storing it while drinking, to gain a clearer, more intuitive experience of Pu-erh's aging changes.
Generally, the aging of a cake occurs in five-year stages, but there are subtle changes each year. By comparing different tea leaves, understand their similarities. Also, try to distinguish their differences and learn how the原料等级affects taste.
Third Stage:定味Stage
When you can初步掌握Pu-erh's taste patterns and wish to explore more, you reach the third stage. As the main task here is to try various Pu-erh teas and determine your preferred taste and收藏strategy, this stage is called the定味stage.
Although there are no restrictions on experimentation in this stage, it should still be done gradually. You can try some small mountain teas, Moonlight White, etc. While drinking, be sure to compare them with the入门teas. If you feel confused, bring out those入门teas again for comparison.
Once you have a basic understanding of various teas and have developed your taste preferences through tasting, then finally try a small amount of pure material or scarce teas—you might be pleasantly surprised.
After completing these three stages, a newcomer can roughly be considered to have入门Pu-erh tea. But do not become complacent, as your understanding of Pu-erh has just begun; there is much more to learn. However, at least we have mastered the method of learning about Pu-erh. As the saying goes, "The road ahead is long and winding; I will seek far and wide."