Time changes everything, and in the realm of tea, time exists as a very important character.

1. Compensating for Natural Deficiencies Through Later Development

For Pu-erh tea, the production process is simple and rough; even expensive ancient tree tea is often pan-fired by tea pickers doubling as processors. The shortcomings in Pu-erh's production technique need to be compensated for through later transformation, and this requires a very long time. This is also a main reason why Pu-erh tea needs to be aged for many years before it is suitable for drinking.

In contrast, the pan-firing of green teas like Longjing is refined to an extreme degree. Therefore, once West Lake Longjing is produced, it reaches its most perfect state after a 10-15 day 'ash-absorbing' process, and then gradually declines after a month. Hence, Longjing should be drunk fresh.

2. Leaping Through Time Inevitably Leaves Traces

The most obvious example is ripe Pu-erh, which was invented precisely to accelerate aging and quickly achieve Pu-erh's optimal drinking value. Ripe Pu-erh and aged raw Pu-erh are completely different in both taste and style.

Modern tea processing techniques often utilize modern technology to shorten processing time for the sake of efficiency. This practice is widespread, and for the sake of efficiency, it's understandable. However, this kind of rushing for quick results inevitably leaves traces and flaws in the taste.

Furthermore, many teas are packaged and sold in sealed bags before the 'fire' has receded in order to reach the market early. Domestically, food-grade materials are rarely used for tea sealing bags in China. Therefore, upon opening the package, there is often a plastic smell, and tea is highly absorbent of odors, making it difficult to remove. This is harmful to both the tea and the drinker and should be avoided.

3. Time is the Best Magician

What makes tea captivating is not only its myriad varieties and rich, diverse sensory experiences but also its constant change over time—from a delicate young girl to a woman of countless charms, to an old, aged state; from morning to evening; from spring to winter. The unknown tea flavor, from imagination before brewing, to speculation upon seeing the liquor and smelling the aroma, to the answer upon tasting, endlessly satisfies people's curiosity about the unknown world.

Time is the best magician; we only need to appreciate her.

4. Tea, Let Us Grow Old Together.

I was delighted to hear that a good friend had a baby girl and is happily searching for a batch of Pu-erh to press, to be shared with family and friends when his daughter gets married.

Store a cake of tea for the future.

Tea will grow old slowly with us, left for our children, left for ourselves, left for time...