So.. I bought this pu-erh..
So I’m just getting into pu-erh tea and decided to buy a cake from the tea shop by my house. I’ve been trying to figure out more about it. I tried asking questions to the girl who sold it to me, but she just went on and on about the health benefits. All that I could figure out is that it’s from 2006 and from Mangai Banzhang Tea Company(I think? It’s also in another language..). I would appreciate any help! Sorry if this is a silly post :/
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Essential info derived:
i) Raw Pu-er （生茶）
ii) Production date- 生产日期: 18th Oct 2011 (in other words, at least 2 years before you can drink it)
2006 refers to the quality certificate standards
iii) 250g
iv) Menghai Banzhang Company
v) Harvest area Mt Bulang 布朗山
vi) Made from Dayezhong （大叶种）cultivar
vii)Large tree variety (乔木) – above 6 m
viii) Most of the first image shows storage instruction: cool, dry, away from direct light etc etc (the usual)
Oo thank you! So it’s almost a year old? And so I should wait 2 years to drink it? (Sorry, I’m just trying to get it straight :])
So would I need to put it in an airtight container or is it ok wrapped in the paper and in the box like it came in? She kept telling me to put it in a tupperware. I have always thought pu-erh cakes were ok just being left in the paper and box?
Oops, I didn’t write clearly there, yes you should wait another 2 years, minimum but ideally at least 5 years after production.
Pu-er is unique in that it needs air to age. That makes it trickier.
Tupperware is definitely out because its airtight and has that plasticky smell that will wind up in your pu-er.
Away from heat, direct light, cool, dry and odorfree.
Recommended is porcelain but I guess its not that easy to find over States side. In fact, not that common in South East Asia where I live- migrant Chinese community and all.
Here’s pic of that
http://peonyts.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_3316.jpg
Yup. Shu has been fermented at the source so it does not need to be aged by the buyer but its taste does improve with age.
Of course the 5 years is just a guide because the relative humidity in windy city is probably lower than southern china and south east asia.
I must issue the caveat that of the major categories of tea, dark tea is one of those that I am least familiar with so there might be some things I missed out.
You can store together but sheng (raw) and shu (cooked) should not come into contact with each other because of the microbes in shu will affect the sheng ones.
How much did you pay. I wish they had a place to get pu-erh where I currently am. I miss Dallas where I could just go pick up some.
Hmm ok :) thank you! I’m learning so much!
I got it for $30.00. The shop only had 2 of them so I thought why not?
Heck yeah. That’s not a bad price at all. Hold on to it for a while and see how it turns out.
Purepuer.com sells mini tuocha in tightly woven baskets. That might be a good way to age it, too! http://purepuer.com/puer_tea/do/product/gift/Tuocha%20Basket
I don’t know if it is ideal, but it is cute! :)
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