As the saying goes, “Wine should be old, Tea should be new.” In most cases, this statement holds true, but “Puer tea” is an exception. In some museums and in the homes of tea collectors, aged Puer teas are still stored. After decades or even a hundred years of transformation, these teas have not spoiled; instead, they have become more fragrant over time, truly becoming “drinkable antiques.”

Why is Old Puer Tea More Valuable than New Tea?

The higher price of old Puer tea compared to new tea indicates its high value and strong market demand.

This is reflected in two aspects: first, scarcity, where rarity increases value; second, superior quality, with carefully selected raw materials and meticulous craftsmanship, ideally from genuine ancient tea trees.

However, we often see that every so often, batches of Puer old tea, ranging from three to five years to as long as ten to fifteen years, appear on the market. Some are sold at reduced prices, while others are priced lower than the current season's new tea. These teas are usually from lesser-known small brands or even unbranded, or the Puer tea market is in a downturn, and some speculators, due to financial issues, can no longer hold out and sell at a low price.

Additionally, when buying tea, many people tend to follow the crowd, and this applies to Puer tea as well.

During the new tea season, the supply of tea significantly increases, and some tea enthusiasts search the market for high-quality teas to purchase and store. When the market is booming and the tea is of excellent quality, the market price of new tea is directly raised.

Therefore, old Puer tea is not necessarily always more expensive than new tea. This is closely related to the current market situation, the quality of the tea, and potential market demand. We need to focus on the actual situation to avoid misjudgments based on past experiences.