Short-term storage: For short-term storage (within 1 month), Pu'er Tea can be stored in a purple clay jar, ensuring it is sealed, kept away from light, and stored in a dry, cool place. Long-term storage: For long-term storage of Pu'er tea, it should be sealed and stored in kraft paper bags or corrugated cardboard boxes. It is not recommended to use a purple clay jar for long-term storage to avoid dampness.

Can Pu'er Tea Be Stored in a Purple Clay Jar?

A purple clay jar has high breathability and an attractive appearance, making it a good choice for storing Pu'er tea. However, a quality purple clay jar can be quite expensive and is also very fragile—it can easily break if accidentally bumped. Therefore, a purple clay jar is not the preferred choice for most people when storing tea. There are countless types of containers available on the market for storing tea, which can be overwhelming to choose from. Many merchants produce containers that look good but are not practical, often misleading newcomers.

How to Store Pu'er Tea

There are several simple and practical methods to prevent your tea from becoming damp. One method is to seal the tea in plastic bags and store them in cardboard boxes. This method is time-saving, labor-saving, and cost-effective. If you don't have much tea at home, you can wrap each cake of tea in a plastic bag or a resealable bag (not completely airtight, as blocking oxygen from the tea will affect its transformation) and place it in a cardboard box. The box should not be placed directly on the ground to avoid excessive moisture exposure. In areas with higher humidity, such as Guangzhou and Zhejiang, cardboard boxes absorb a small amount of moisture. They can be placed on bookshelves or on makeshift stands, avoiding contact with water as much as possible. It's best to replace the boxes regularly. During the plum rain season in some regions, water droplets may seep out of walls, so be careful not to place the boxes against the wall. To ensure safety, check the tea for dampness every few days. Additionally, Pu'er tea should be protected from direct sunlight during storage.

For home storage, buying the tea in original packaging can make storage more convenient without taking up much space. Cardboard boxes also help protect against odors and dampness. When storing, ensure they are placed at a certain distance from the ground. Otherwise, they can become damp, or you can place them on wooden boards or cardboard. In places with extremely high humidity, consider placing bamboo charcoal in the cardboard box before storage to absorb excess moisture.

Loose tea is not recommended for long-term storage by tea enthusiasts. Pu'er tea is very susceptible to absorbing odors, and loose tea, which has not undergone the compression process, is particularly prone to losing its flavor. Loose tea stored for two to three years may have significantly diminished aroma. Short-term storage of loose tea can use resealable bags or purple clay jars, stored in a sealed manner. Some enthusiasts put tea cakes in the refrigerator, but this method is actually inappropriate.

During the storage process, Pu'er tea is continuously transforming. After coming into contact with air, the substances within the tea undergo subtle changes, improving its taste.

A purple clay jar is not suitable for storing Pu'er tea. During the high-temperature firing process, the inside and outside of the jar are not glazed, resulting in a layer of tiny pores on the surface. Moisture from the air can easily penetrate, causing the tea to become damp or even moldy. Additionally, the mouth of the jar is usually made wide for easy access, leaving a significant gap between the lid and the mouth, which can cause the tea to lose its aroma over time. Corrugated cardboard boxes are more recommended for storing tea as they are convenient, economical, and practical.