What is the difference between raw Pu'er and cooked Pu'er? How to identify the quality of Pu'er tea

Pu'er tea is made with exquisite craftsmanship. Friends who know tea must know that Pu'er tea is divided into raw Pu'er and cooked Pu'er. The raw material of raw Pu'er is Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea, and the raw material of cooked Pu'er is Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea. In addition to the different characteristics of these raw materials, there are other differences. Open and take a look!

Contents of this article

1. What is the difference between raw Pu'er and cooked Pu'er?

2. How to identify the quality of Pu'er tea

3. Is Pu'er tea better the older it is?

What is the difference between raw Pu'er and ripe Pu'er?

There are differences in color, taste, fermentation method, etc. Raw Pu'er is only processed and shaped without artificial fermentation or piling treatment. Its color is generally light green or dark green and has a strong taste. Ripe Pu'er is processed through piling and fermentation. Its color is generally black or reddish brown and has a pure taste.

The biggest difference between raw Pu'er and ripe Pu'er lies in the different fermentation methods, which is the basis for dividing raw and ripe Pu'er.

The raw material of raw Pu'er is Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea, which is stored in a natural way. It is a general term for various Yunnan teas.

Ripe Pu'er is made from Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea, which is processed through pile-fermentation and fermentation processes. The tea is reddish-brown in color and has a pure and mellow taste.

How to identify the quality of Pu'er tea

The quality of Pu'er tea is mainly judged by tenderness, color, uniformity and stretch. If the bottom of the Pu'er tea leaves is soft and tough when pinched by fingers, it is tender, while hard leaves are old. After brewing with boiling water, the leaves of good quality Pu'er tea are very flat, while the leaves of poor quality Pu'er tea can only be partially unfolded and are not flat.

If the bottom of the Pu'er tea leaves is soft and resilient when you pinch them with your fingers, the leaves are tender. If they are hard and loosen after you let go, the leaves are old. If the serrations on the edges of the leaves are smooth, the leaves are tender, and if the serrations are obvious, the leaves are old.

The best Pu'er tea is ink-green in color. If there are cracked spots on the bottom of the leaves, burnt leaves, red leaves, red stems, or broken leaves, then it is not good.

The better the stretch of the bottom of the Pu'er tea leaves, the better its activity. Generally, the leaves of good quality Pu'er tea leaves will be very flat after brewing with boiling water, while the leaves of poor quality Pu'er tea leaves can only be partially unfolded and look wrinkled and uneven.

Is Pu'er tea better the older it is?

Not necessarily. The quality of Pu'er tea mainly depends on the storage method and whether the raw materials are high quality. Whether it is raw or cooked, the substances will undergo corresponding changes during the later storage process. Some teas will increase, while others will decrease. Moreover, the quality of tea will not always improve. When all the substances contained in it are transformed, the tea quality reaches its peak, and then it will slowly decline.

The aging of Pu'er tea is mainly affected by factors such as time, light, temperature, and humidity.

Generally speaking, raw Pu'er tea can be stored for 10-20 years, while cooked tea can only be stored for 2-3 years.

It is recommended to use purple clay teapots, covered bowls, elegant cups, and ceramic tea sets to brew Pu'er tea.