Ripe Tea, due to its artificial heap fermentation process, has its regional characteristics of the sun-dried Green Tea raw material weakened, and its quality features are not as pronounced as those of raw tea. This makes it difficult for many people to know how to select ripe tea. However, by remembering the following three points, selecting good ripe tea becomes easier.

① Don't Overbuy Loose Leaf Ripe Tea
Although loose leaf tea is convenient to drink, it has a significant drawback: no matter how it's stored, the flavor fades quickly and gradually loses its ability to transform, resulting in a bland taste. This applies to both ripe and raw teas.
If you're only drinking it in the short term, buy loose leaf tea in moderation, purchasing as much as you need to ensure the best tasting experience. For long-term storage, compressed cakes, bricks, and tuocha are the better choices.

② Look at the Appearance When Selecting Tea
Raw tea is judged by its twisted leaves, while ripe tea is evaluated by its appearance. Whether it's a brick or cake of ripe tea, when opening it, pay attention to the ratio of leaves to stems. Ripe tea with more leaves and buds doesn't last many infusions but offers a rich flavor and thick broth; tea with more stems uses older raw materials, which are durable for multiple infusions but lack complexity in taste.

③ Buy Older Instead of Newer Ripe Tea
The most challenging aspect of new ripe tea has always been the heap fermentation flavor. The heap fermentation flavor in new ripe tea is unavoidable, but it can vary in intensity depending on the degree of fermentation and the level of craftsmanship. To dissipate this flavor, long-term storage is required.
Therefore, when buying ripe tea, opt for one that is a year or more old. Older ripe teas have no heap fermentation flavor and offer a smoother taste and aroma.

Raw tea is easy to purchase, but ripe tea is harder to select. Mastering the appropriate techniques and points, trying before buying, and tasting various options, finding a ripe tea that suits your palate is not a difficult task. (Source: Justice Tea Shop, Image Source: ChaYou Image Library)