To those who have just started loving Pu-erh tea—when first getting to know Pu-erh tea, you should:

1. It’s best not to forcibly compare Pu-erh tea with other types of tea you’ve drunk before. This is because: Comparing aroma—Pu-erh cannot match Oolong Tieguanyin, scented tea, or green tea; comparing production processes—Pu-erh’s process is relatively simpler compared to other tea categories; comparing price—Pu-erh prices change daily and are trending to surpass most other teas.

2. To understand Pu-erh tea, observe more, ask more, drink more (preferably taste more teas for free), and spend less (don’t buy as soon as you see one).

3. Do not expect collecting tea to increase in value—that will only drive you crazy.

4. Only after gradually accumulating experience can you find truly aged tea. Do not immediately pursue old vintage teas.

5. Do not blindly trust large factories or big brands, nor casually dismiss small factories or lesser-known brands. Large factories and big brands can also produce 'junk,' while small factories and lesser-known brands can yield good tea.

6. Do not be fooled by flashy, luxurious, or high-end packaging. Focusing on the tea’s intrinsic quality is what matters.

7. Stay away from the temptations of terms like 'wild,' 'hundred-year,' 'ancient tree,' or 'collection.' These are often marketing gimmicks with hidden falsehoods.

8. Advice: Ripe Pu-erh is not suitable for long-term collection; finish drinking it within five or six years.

9. 'Aging enhances fragrance' is a characteristic of Pu-erh tea, but only good processing, quality raw materials, and proper storage will elevate Pu-erh to a higher level.

10. Pu-erh tea has health benefits, but it is not medicine. It should not be consumed excessively. Choose raw or ripe tea according to individual suitability. Pu-erh tea is not mysterious—it is both simple and complex. Its simplicity lies in the tea itself, as defined: Pu-erh tea is a post-fermented product made from sun-dried raw tea leaves (including large, medium, and small leaf varieties) from the Yunnan Lancang River basin, processed through loose tea or compressed forms, or special techniques. Its complexity arises from artificial hype, which has shrouded Pu-erh in mystery, leaving many beginners confused and vulnerable to being 'tricked' by unscrupulous tea merchants.