Ripe tea, also known as "shou" or "fermented" Puer tea, is made from large-leaf Yunnan tea leaves that undergo a fermentation process called "wo dui."
Storage Methods for Ripe Puer Tea
Proper storage includes keeping it well-ventilated, away from odors, and protected from direct moisture exposure.
Can Ripe Puer Tea Really Improve Digestion?
Indeed, ripe Puer tea has digestive benefits. It can quench thirst, relieve heat, detoxify the body, and aid in bowel movements. However, if you have gastritis, it's advisable to seek professional treatment.
What Are the Flavor Profiles of Ripe Puer Tea?
Experienced tea drinkers often describe flavors like "rice broth" and "lotus root starch," which refer to the smooth and velvety texture of Puer tea. It's characterized by a smooth, mellow taste with a soft and thick mouthfeel.
How Should You Brew Ripe Puer Tea?
High-quality ripe Puer tea should be free from off-flavors like mustiness, earthiness, or sourness. It should have a slightly sticky mouthfeel, akin to rice broth.
Differences Between Loose Leaf, Cake, Tuo, and Brick Ripe Puer Tea
Originally, these different shapes corresponded to various raw materials. However, with technological advancements, shape and raw material are no longer closely related.
Raw vs. Ripe Puer Tea: What Sets Them Apart?
Raw Puer tea, also known as "sheng" or "green" Puer tea, is unfermented, while ripe Puer tea undergoes artificial fermentation through the wo dui process. Ripe Puer tea typically has a reddish-brown color, while raw Puer tea is lighter, displaying a greenish-yellow hue. Raw Puer tea has a stronger, sometimes bitter taste, while ripe Puer tea is milder, akin to black tea in its full-bodied, rich, and gentle flavor.
Which Is Better: Raw or Ripe Puer Tea?
There's no definitive "better" option, only what's more suitable for your individual constitution. Raw Puer tea suits those with a robust constitution, while ripe Puer tea has a milder nature and can be enjoyed by various constitution types.
Does Drinking Tea Cause Internal Heat?
Tea itself possesses cooling properties and can help reduce internal heat. Claims that tea, including Puer tea, causes "heatiness" are baseless.
Distinguishing Ripe Puer Tea from Aged Raw Puer Tea
It's incorrect to label ripe Puer tea as "aged raw tea." Aged raw tea, often referred to as "sheng nian," is characterized by its freshness, vibrancy, layered flavors, pronounced juiciness, and noticeable returning sweetness. Raw tea undergoes significant transformations over time, unlike ripe tea.
What Do the Marks on Puer Tea Mean?
The term "marks" is derived from the English word "mark," signifying a numerical label.
Dry Storage vs. Wet Storage
Dry storage refers to a dry, well-ventilated, and light-protected environment. Wet storage involves high humidity and temperature levels. Wet storage is a practice more common in Guangdong, not typically found in Yunnan.
How to Brew Ripe Puer Tea: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here are the steps for brewing ripe Puer tea:
- Prepare tea utensils and ripe Puer tea leaves.
- Warm the teapot and utensils with boiling water to remove any odors and rinse the tea leaves.
- Add tea leaves to the teapot.
- Rinse the tea leaves with a small amount of boiling water, discarding it. This washes away impurities and awakens the tea leaves.
- Begin brewing by pouring boiling water over the tea leaves. Steep for about 10 seconds.
- Pour the tea into a fairness pitcher, filtering out any small tea particles.
- Serve and enjoy. Ripe Puer tea maintains its flavor even as it cools, making it suitable for iced tea.
Note: The steeping time for tea varies depending on the type of tea leaves. Typically, compressed tea can have a slightly longer steeping time, loose leaf tea can steep a bit shorter, using more tea leaves may warrant a slightly shorter steep, and using fewer tea leaves may require a slightly longer steep. At the beginning of brewing, you can steep for a shorter time, while as you continue, you can extend the steeping time slightly.
