The five basic requirements for storing tea are: sealed, odor-free, shaded, low temperature, and dry. First, ensure a clean and odor-free environment for storing your tea. For green teas or lightly fermented teas, store them in sealed containers to prevent spoilage from high temperatures, and take care to avoid exposure to light and dampness.
How to Store Tea at Home
1. Avoid Strong Light
Strong sunlight can cause the phenolic compounds and chlorophyll in tea to oxidize, resulting in a bland taste and dull color. Therefore, regardless of the type of tea you are storing, try to keep it out of direct sunlight. (Slightly Damp tea can be sun-dried to remove moisture, but its flavor will be significantly reduced.)
2. Avoid High Temperatures
High temperatures can damage the internal structure of tea and cause aromatic compounds to degrade, which may result in loss of flavor or spoilage. In general, when storing any type of tea, temperatures should not exceed 25°C, and avoid areas that are easily exposed to sunlight and heat, such as windowsills or balconies.
3. Avoid Moisture
Tea is porous and hygroscopic; once it gets damp, its flavor may diminish or it could even become moldy and toxic. Regardless of the type of tea being stored, choose a relatively dry environment (even for post-fermented dark teas, the humidity in the air should not be too high), and ideally place it somewhere elevated, as the ground is often more humid.
4. Avoid Odors
Tea has strong adsorptive properties, so regardless of the type of tea, use an odor-free container and avoid environments that produce odors (such as kitchens). Additionally, different types of tea placed together can easily absorb each other's flavors, and even teas of the same type with different qualities can do the same, so try to avoid this.
Small Tips for Storing Tea at Home
1. Remember four key words when storing tea: cool, dry, odor-free, and off the ground.
2. All tea types except dark tea can be stored in tin cans.
3. All tea types except green tea and lightly oxidized oolong can be stored at room temperature.
4. Green tea and lightly oxidized oolong should be placed in tin cans, covered with aluminum foil bags, and stored in the refrigerator.
5. Dark tea can be stored in Clay pots or wrapped in kraft Paper, and then left to age naturally over time.
When Is Puer Shengcha Best to Drink?
1. After 15 days, the Puer shengcha is still quite cool and strong in character, with both astringency and fullness in taste, making its strengths and weaknesses very apparent. At this stage, the tea is only suitable for tasting and not for regular consumption.
2. After one year, the taste of Puer shengcha changes significantly. The wateriness disappears, the taste stabilizes, the aroma becomes richer, and the cooler nature begins to diminish.
3. After three to five years, the cooler nature of Puer shengcha gradually turns into warmth, and aged aromas start to emerge. The mouthfeel becomes smoother, the aroma is full, and there is a continuous production of saliva.
4. After ten years, Puer shengcha not only changes in taste but also increases significantly in price. The aroma is intense, the taste is rich and smooth, and the sensation of saliva production continues.
5. After thirty years, Puer shengcha that has naturally matured over several decades is extremely valuable, even priceless. However, from a medical and nutritional standpoint, Puer shengcha should not be stored for longer than 30 years, as after that point, it may only have value as an artifact or for auction, without much meaning for drinking.
Generally speaking, loose tea should be aged for six months, while Compressed tea cakes should be aged for at least one and a half years. However, the specific storage period can affect the taste differently. Ten-year-old Puer shengcha is considered to be at its peak stage. After ten years, not only does the taste change, but the price also multiplies significantly. The aroma is intense, the taste is rich and smooth, and the sensation of saliva production continues.
Of course, the specific storage period depends on personal taste. With Puer tea, you will notice differences year by year, and every year and every period offers a different experience. The best tea is the one that suits your taste.