Tea was originally used for medicinal purposes, and later for quenching thirst. The primary condition for quenching thirst is that the throat is moistened, immediately relieving the constricted dryness. Throat sensation (Hou Yun) has always been highly favored by tea drinkers, especially more experienced connoisseurs who place great importance on its characteristics. The throat sensation of Pu'er tea can be divided into three aspects: sweetness, dryness, and moistening.

Sweetness

It is the returning sweetness in the throat brought by the tea liquor, which is liked by all tea drinkers. The taste of sweetness is relatively subtle, not as飘逸 (ethereal or floating) as aroma, and is often accompanied by bitterness. Bitterness gives way to sweetness. Many tea drinkers like bitter tea liquor precisely because of the returning sweetness after the bitterness.

Dryness

It is an uncomfortable sensation in the throat after drinking tea. If the tea liquor's character is too sharp or too bitter and astringent, it can make the throat uncomfortable, producing a dry and rough sensation. In severe cases, it may even cause difficulty swallowing. Some Pu'er teas made from tea materials outside Yunnan or from border regions have poor quality, causing a "throat-locking" sensation (a dry and irritating feeling in the throat) after drinking. Besides being extremely uncomfortable, a dry throat sensation can also make the drinker anxious and uneasy, affecting health. Therefore, drinkers should avoid such Pu'er teas.

Moistening

Moistening the throat is the first step in quenching thirst. After replenishing sufficient moisture, the depression caused by thirst is immediately relieved, and the chest feels comfortable and open. Sometimes, when the weather is too dry or one has eaten something too salty, causing a dry mouth and tongue, drinking more plain water may paradoxically make one feel thirstier. At such times, a sip or two of high-quality Pu'er tea can moisten the throat, naturally eliminating the feeling of dryness and bringing comfort and smoothness. Generally, Pu'er tea from old-growth arbor trees, after proper aging, can achieve the state of "moistening the throat and throat, breaking solitude and melancholy."

The saliva-inducing effect of Pu'er tea creates a good throat sensation. Salivation is the secretion of saliva in the oral cavity. In traditional Chinese health preservation, saliva is considered a supreme treasure, praised as the "elixir of longevity." Salivation in the mouth can quench thirst and soothe, while also nourishing one's life. The salivation after drinking tea not only soothes the throat sensation and moistens the oral cavity, providing nourishment for life, but also offers a spiritual realm for the tea drinker.

Pu'er tea is made from large-leaf tea varieties, with particularly rich internal components and strong salivation-inducing ability. According to general experience in tasting Pu'er tea, fresh teas or those aged for one to two decades cause "salivation on both cheeks." Pu'er tea aged for thirty to forty years can cause a "salivation on the tongue surface" phenomenon after the tea liquor enters the mouth, which is the aesthetic feeling of so-called "tongue-sensing Pu'er tea." For older Pu'er teas aged for fifty to sixty years or more, the tea liquor has become soft, reaching a state of melting upon entry into the mouth. Not only can it stimulate salivation on both cheeks and the tongue surface, but it can also evoke the effect of "springs gurgling under the tongue," making the throat sensation and the overall tasting experience even more wonderful.