It is said that Pu-erh tea is a drinkable antique, so Pu-erh becomes more fragrant and more flavorful with age. But the premise of this aging is that the Pu-erh is well preserved. So what environment is better for storing Pu-erh tea? The storage environment directly affects the quality of Pu-erh and indirectly affects its value. Let's take a look at what讲究 (particular requirements) Pu-erh has for the storage environment.
What environment is better for storing Pu-erh tea? We list five conditions: sunlight, humidity, air, and simplicity. The first three are essential elements for biological survival:
1. Sunlight for Storing Pu-erh Tea
Tea leaves need ample sunlight for growth to perform photosynthesis and produce nutrients. However, once the leaves are made into tea products, they are not suitable for prolonged direct exposure to sunlight. Sunlight raises the temperature. Excessively high temperatures cause the moisture in the tea leaves to dissipate, lowering humidity and approaching a state of 'roasting,' which is different from the natural transformation and aging of the tea. Secondly, the ultraviolet rays in sunlight contain extremely high energy that can破坏 (damage) the material structure of the tea leaves themselves. Especially, if it破坏 the mechanism by which catechins secrete polyphenol oxidase, it also破坏 the possibility of subsequent transformation of the tea product. Therefore, the environment for storing tea is mostly in places without direct sunlight.
2. Temperature for Storing Pu-erh Tea
From the perspective of chemical reactions, the higher the temperature, the faster the reaction. However, '欲速则不达' (Haste makes waste). When the temperature reaches 60-70 degrees Celsius, if the relative humidity is also very high, it is接近 (close to) the environment for brewing general green tea. The substances in the tea leaves are directly dissolved by water, naturally谈不上 (cannot be considered as) subsequent transformation and aging. If the temperature remains high but the relative humidity is too low, then it is接近 'baking,' also谈不上 subsequent transformation and aging. Furthermore, if the temperature and humidity are too low, chemical reactions slow down, and it takes longer to complete a certain reaction process. If the temperature and humidity fall below a certain level, chemical reactions will接近 a停止 (stopped) state. Ocean-going fishing vessels immediately freeze and store their catch after capture precisely for '保鲜' (preserving freshness), preventing spoilage. As for excessively low temperature, meaning an overly dry environment, it is beneficial for preserving substances. That's why many food packaging boxes contain desiccants. But maintaining the stability of food also means it is不利于 (unfavorable for) chemical reactions. Tea, as a type of food, naturally cannot be exempt from the本性 (nature) of food.
3. Humidity for Storing Pu-erh Tea
The moisture content in the air of a tea warehouse has a significant impact on the subsequent transformation of tea products. If tea products are stored in a relatively dry environment, their subsequent transformation is basically dominated by their own enzyme activity. If, due to high relative humidity, microorganisms繁殖 (multiply), and the tea products are transformed by enzymes secreted by microorganisms, then it should be considered a type of fermentation. Dark and damp environments easily breed microorganisms; this is a natural principle. But what effect microorganisms have on tea products must be verified through objective and公正 (impartial) scientific experiments. Regarding the level of relative humidity, lower relative humidity results in slower transformation of tea products. Higher relative humidity may lead to microbial growth. The critical point between them,综合 (synthesizing) various opinions, is大约 (approximately) between 82% and 85% relative humidity.
4. Air for Storing Pu-erh Tea
For Pu-erh tea to continue transforming, air is one of the necessary conditions, with oxygen being an essential element in chemical reactions. If the air in the tea warehouse is not sufficiently流通 (circulated), the tea product will吸回 (reabsorb) the reaction products back into the tea leaves. Of course, whether reabsorbing these products adds or subtracts from the tea's quality also depends on objective and公正 scientific实验检证 (experimental verification).
Some tea products, especially green teas, are suitable for fresh consumption. Therefore, after production, tea factories often use vacuum packaging, indicating that air can cause quality changes in tea. But for Pu-erh tea, the presence of air is indeed necessary because without air, subsequent transformation cannot occur. Here are a few observed phenomena: 1. Usually, ventilation openings are deliberately made above the pile-fermentation rooms. 2. The warehouse in Chai Wan, Hong Kong, does not have deliberately installed ventilation devices, but personnel must pass through the warehouse to enter and exit,显然 (obviously) providing moderate air circulation. 3. The warehouse in Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong, has no ventilation openings and is almost密闭 (sealed). 4. Most people agree that storing tea in ceramic jars, especially purple clay jars, yields the best results. Usually, the jar lid should be opened periodically to '回气' (let it breathe).
5. Simplicity for Storing Pu-erh Tea
所谓 (So-called) simplicity means that the place where Pu-erh tea is stored should preferably not be mixed with other items, especially if those items emit various odors, which should be avoided. Because tea leaves themselves easily absorb the odors of their surrounding environment. If the storage environment contains过于复杂 (overly complex) items, it's hard to guarantee the tea won't become五味杂陈 (a mixture of flavors). Therefore, the simplification of the storage environment should be given special attention.
The introduction to what environment is better for storing Pu-erh tea ends here. The choice of environment is very important. Friends who want to收藏 (collect) Pu-erh tea must read carefully to avoid causing quality problems for the Pu-erh. If you are a tea merchant, pay attention to ventilation when storing Pu-erh tea; friends engaged in Pu-erh tea批发 (wholesale),加盟 (franchising),代理 (agency) should choose branded tea companies for cooperation.