No matter you are “newbies” that is new to tea or “tea fans” that have drank tea for a long time, for Pu-erh teas, you will always have various confusions at any stage.
In order to solve problems you might have, China Pu-erh Tea Net works with the Tea Research Institution from Yunnan Agricultural Science Academy, Taipu Brand, Pu-erh Tea Department from Yunnan Agricultural Science Academy, Yunnan Tea Digital Commerce Association, launching the expert lecture on Friday “Everything about the Tea”. The tea experts are invited to giving you the scientific and objective knowledge on Pu-erh.
Everyone is welcomed to join the discussion.
- What materials can be called pure tea?
For Pu-erh tea, there is always distinguish between pure tea and mixed. Then, which tea should be called pure tea?
Pure it is a relative concept. Strictly speaking, single plant can be called pure. However, normally the refresh tea leaves collected from one tree are not enough for a pot. Therefore, the tea farmers will collect the fresh tree leaves from similar tea trees, which are older. Then, fried together. The raw materials made this way, are all called single plant.
Besides single plant, what is the “pure material tea”? How do you define “pure”? If we have to have a concept, then we call the same variety and same level teas, which are collected at the same time and specific location that pressed to make the final products. We call these products the “pure material tea”.
Thus, many people asks is the pure tea better or the mixed tea? In fact, this is a false hypothesis. If the quality is not good, doesn’t matter if it is the pure tea or the mixed tea. If the quality is good, no matter if it is the pure tea or the mixed tea, they are both good tea.
The meaning of the mixed tea is to emphasize the advantage and create more variations. A good mixed tea has more layers, and will surprise you with future variations.
Many sellers like to use “pure tea” as label in order to avoid the conflict and sell the tea with concept. They are not selling the tea based on the tea itself. Many consumers are not very professional in terms of distinguish teas, and they don’t have the ability to compare a lot of teas.
Compare to helping consumers understand the quality of the tea, maybe making concepts is relatively easier. Thus, there is the argument about the “mixed tea” or “pure tea” in the market. In fact, the argument is meaningless.
- What’s the best time to collect the Pu-erh tea?
The collection of the tea leaves not only affects the quality and the quantity of the tea, but also affects the growth and development of tea trees. Thus, the scientific and strictly collection standards are the premise of the Pu-erh tea.
The collection seasons of Pu-erh tea are normally conducted in spring, summer and autumn, starting from the second half of February each year until November.
February to April collects the spring tea (old tea tree normally starts between March to May). Within the 15 days after the Tomb Sweeping Day, the quality of the spring teas are the best, normally the one bud with one leaf, which is skinny and white. The summer tea starts at May to July, also called the rainy tea, much bitter. Autumn tea collects at August to October. The quality of the autumn tea is higher than summer tea but lower than spring tea.
Of course, the fresh leaves of Pu-erh tea has its best collecting time too, normally after sunrise till noon. The water level contained in the fresh tea levels is the most appropriate at this period, which is better for later stage.