Pu'er Tea is distinct from other types of tea due to its characteristic of becoming more fragrant with age. This trait also endows Pu'er tea with value for storage and collection beyond its immediate consumption. As a result, enthusiasts can inadvertently fall into traps when collecting Pu'er. Have you been caught out?

Mistake One: Collecting Has Risks, Avoid Following Trends Blindly

There are three main types of people who collect Pu'er tea: those who store it because they enjoy drinking it; those who collect it as an investment hoping for appreciation in value; and those who both enjoy drinking it and store it in the hope of future gains.

When collecting Pu'er tea, pay attention to the following three points:

First: Investing carries risks, and one should view the potential appreciation of Pu'er tea rationally and avoid blind speculation.

Second: Selecting Pu'er tea requires a certain level of tea-tasting skill and knowledge about Pu'er tea. If you choose to collect low-quality tea, no amount of proper storage will increase its value.

Third: Learn how to properly store the Pu'er tea you buy, or you may suffer losses due to improper storage.

Mistake Two: Famous Mountains Are Great, But Come at a Price

Old Banzhang, Bingdao, Xigui, Bohetang, Yiwu… These mountain teas are well-known to enthusiasts who have some understanding of Pu'er tea. Different mountains produce unique and outstanding flavors due to their distinctive climates, altitudes, and soil types, which have always been favored by tea drinkers. However, we must admit that these famous mountain teas are really, really, really—expensive!

The principle that rare things are valuable has remained unchanged throughout history. Mountain teas, especially those from ancient trees, do indeed have exceptional flavors, but their production is very limited, making them costly. Therefore, you should carefully consider your financial situation. Whether storing tea or drinking it, the goal is to improve the quality of your life. If storing tea ends up lowering your standard of living, wouldn't that be like buying the box and returning the pearl, missing the point entirely?

Mistake Three: Blended Teas Aren't Inferior, Pure Leaf Teas Can Be Expected To Age Well

The debate between blended and pure leaf teas has been ongoing. Blending is a testament to human craftsmanship, while pure leaf teas are a gift from nature. Even pure leaf teas from ancient trees vary in quality. Blending uses human wisdom to make up for the inherent shortcomings of raw materials, combining strengths and compensating for weaknesses, rather than being a combination of inferior qualities. Classic teas such as Songpin from the early 1900s and Red Seal from more recent times are both blended teas, which have already proven this point. One significant advantage of pure leaf teas is their predictability for aging under correct and reasonable storage conditions.

Mistake Four: Pursuing Old Teas Blindly

Under correct storage conditions, Pu'er tea can become more fragrant with age, but it requires the gradual passage of time, not something achieved overnight. Some unscrupulous merchants, driven by profit, exploit enthusiasts' preference for aged teas by producing various artificially aged fake old teas. Ignoring the taste of these fake old teas, some that have undergone artificial aging processes contain high levels of toxic molds such as Aspergillus flavus, which can harm our health.

Mistake Five: The Age of Pu'er Tea Isn't Always the Longer the Better

All things have a natural cycle of development and decline, just like stars in the sky and our planet Earth. This is true for Pu'er tea as well. The oldest known Pu'er tea in existence is the Golden Melon tribute tea stored in the Forbidden City, which is over a century old. In his book “Pu'er Tea,” Mr. Deng Shihai describes it as having “color in the infusion, but the flavor is aged and thin.” It's clear that, in terms of taste, the longer the aging period of Pu'er tea isn't always better, so there's no need to seek only the oldest teas.

The above are just common mistakes made during the process of collecting Pu'er tea. What pitfalls have you encountered, or what tips do you have to share? Let us know!