A Tea enthusiast asked: “Mansong tea, the most expensive in the Pu'er world, has such a limited production, so why is it everywhere on the market?”

Although many teas sold under the guise of Mansong ancient tree tea can be found in the market, very few are genuine.

As a premium Pu'er tea, Mansong shares the same fate as Lao Banzhang and Bingdao – they cannot escape being counterfeited.

Just like Bingdao Pu'er tea from the old Village, every household claims to have Bingdao Pu'er tea, but the real amount of Bingdao Pu'er tea is scarce.

The Pu'er tea circle faces this phenomenon: there isn't a lack of good tea, but the amount of high-quality tea is too small, while the number of fake teas is too large.

We seldom get to drink good tea, while Pu'er teas labeled as fakes are everywhere.

This situation is very unsettling.

While it's true that every industry experiences such issues, especially when the value increases, there will be a surge in counterfeit products. Dayi tea and China Tea (Zhongcha) serve as prime examples.

Even classic teas like 88 Qing are subject to counterfeiting.

It's well-known that the remaining stock of 88 Qing in the Pu'er tea world is extremely limited, yet the quantity circulating in the market is alarming.

This has forced the Guangzhou Tea Association to release “Guidelines for Identifying the Authenticity of Aged Pu'er Teas Circulating Widely in the Market.”

So, what types of teas become targets for counterfeiting?

First type: Well-known branded teas.

Why do people counterfeit these brands? There's only one reason: high brand recognition makes them easy to sell and profitable.

Second type: Famous mountain-origin Pu'er teas.

The price difference between famous mountain-origin Pu'er teas and those from lesser-known mountains is vast. While Yunnan Pu'er teas are known for their unique flavors from different mountains, Pu'er teas from nearby mountains share some similarities in taste.

For most tea enthusiasts, whether substituting lesser-known mountain-origin teas for famous ones or mixing them together, it's often difficult to detect. This is the most common occurrence on tea mountains.

Third type: Aged teas.

Aged teas are a major target for counterfeiting in the Pu'er world, with most fakes created by altering new teas. These artificially aged fake teas not only taste poor but can also harm your health if consumed excessively, so it's essential to learn how to identify them.

Fourth type: Ancient tree teas.

Conclusion:

The rampant counterfeiting of fake teas leaves us constantly on guard. From the “Godfather of Pu'er Tea” in Taiwan to small and large stores, the fake teas seized by the police represent just the tip of the iceberg.

Therefore, we must learn to distinguish between genuine and fake teas.

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