Many friends ask: there are small insects on old tea leaves, can this tea still be consumed? Some customers also inquire when purchasing tea: with so many 'insect holes', is this tea still drinkable? Regarding this, many people likely have partial understanding without full knowledge. To help everyone better understand 'tea insects', the editor specifically consulted experienced experts and searched for information online, hoping to provide assistance.

First, regarding 'tea insects', we should distinguish between two types: the white small insects commonly seen, and the gray-black small insects. In reality, what we see more often are the white small insects. These are not the 'tea insects' that consume tea leaves; they are actually 'paper insects' that prefer eating packaging paper. The other gray-black insects are the true 'tea insects'. According to understanding, these 'tea insects' only eat tea leaves, but unfortunately very few people in the market have actually seen these insects.

[Paper Insects]

The white small insects are called 'paper insects' in the market. As for which species in entomology 'paper insects' belong to, it's difficult for non-specialists to identify. In the market, it's not hard to find various small holes in the wrapping paper of some Pu'er teas. People in the industry call these small holes 'insect eyes'. These 'insect eyes' are caused by paper insects. Fortunately, these insects only like to eat paper, so they don't significantly affect the quality of Pu'er tea. That being said, they still need to be dealt with. To handle these 'paper insects', it's simple: first use a brush to clean the tea leaves, then store your beloved tea in a ventilated, breathable, and dry place. However, regarding the more extreme online methods like 'sun exposure' and 'freezing', I personally don't quite agree because tea quality might be affected after sun exposure or freezing.

[Tea Insects]

True 'tea insects' are gray-black with relatively short life cycles. Most die within the tea, eventually integrating with the tea leaves over time. According to some experienced tea enthusiasts, 'tea insects' are actually very beneficial. They appear in some high-quality finished Pu'er tea products, specifically consuming tea and preferring good quality tea. After death, they become part of the tea. It's said that tea brewed with their presence exhibits better liquor color, taste, and endurance through multiple infusions compared to raw Pu'er tea aged for 50 years (though the editor hasn't had the chance to taste it and cannot describe the exact flavor). When discussing 'tea insects', we must mention 'Dragon Pearl Tea' (also known as insect droppings tea). This tea is specially processed from the excrement of 'tea insects' after they consume tea leaves. The nutritional value of insect tea is higher than that of ordinary tea.

(Friendly reminder: 'Tea insects' appear under normal storage and aging conditions. Please do not equate them with insects attracted to Pu'er tea stored in damp environments!)

Regardless, insects on tea leaves can make people uncomfortable. Therefore, everyone must be careful and serious about tea storage and warehousing, while also conducting regular inspections to prevent insect infestation. Of course, if your Pu'er tea develops true 'tea insects', that's definitely not a bad thing!