Storing and Gifting Dragon Pearls

Dragon pearls are individually formed and look easy to store, but they're a tea that transforms and absorbs odors. Cared for well, every pearl keeps a clean aroma; given as a gift, they're a thoughtful present that's easy to get started with.

How to Store Dragon Pearls

The four principles for storing pu'er apply to dragon pearls too: dry, ventilated, out of light, and free of odors. Specifically:

1. Keep the original packaging: The bag itself is a layer of protection; seal it after taking pearls out.
2. Put it in a jar or box as well: A lidded clay jar, tin canister, or paper box all work, adding another layer against odors and moisture.
3. Keep it in a cool cabinet: Away from the kitchen, bathroom, windows, and fragrances, not directly on the floor or against an outside wall.
4. Keep raw and ripe apart: Dragon pearls are raw pu'er, so don't store them in the same jar as ripe tea or xiaoqinggan, or their aromas will cross over.
5. Use dry hands: Take out only the pearl you're about to brew, and seal it again right away.

Humidity is high during Taiwan's plum rain season and summer, so the place you store tea should ideally stay below 70% relative humidity. More methods are in How to Store Pu'er at Home and How to Store Dragon Pearls, Loose Tea, Tea Bags, and Xiaoqinggan.

We Don't Recommend the Refrigerator

Refrigerators are humid and full of food odors. Taking dragon pearls in and out easily causes condensation on the surface and moisture damage, and they easily pick up food smells. A dry, cool cabinet is all they need. See Can You Store Pu'er in the Refrigerator?

How Soon Should You Finish Them After Opening?

Once opened, dragon pearls are exposed to more air, and their aroma gradually changes. We recommend:

• Going by the expiration date on the package;
• Keeping the bag sealed after opening and finishing it within a few months, when the aroma is most stable;
• Smelling the bag each time you open it: if it smells clean and of tea, all is well; if there's a stuffy or moldy smell or it has picked up other odors, don't drink it.

With 10 pearls in a bag, brewing 2–3 a week will finish it in about a month, which is a very comfortable pace.

Can You Let Dragon Pearls Age?

Raw pu'er transforms over time, and dragon pearls are no exception. But their characteristics differ somewhat from whole cakes:

• Small and tightly rolled: At 8 g each, the inside and outside transform at a different rate from a 357 g cake;
• Packaging: Dragon pearls in small bags are more often regarded as a format for everyday drinking;
• Storage environment: Whether conditions at home are stable makes a big difference.

So dragon pearls are better finished within a certain period, enjoying their sweetness and fragrance as they are now. If you want to observe the transformation, keep 1–2 pearls, brew one every six months, and note the liquor color and aroma to see how it changes. The principles of aging are in How Raw Tea Ages.

Who Do They Suit as a Gift?

• Friends who love tea and appreciate whole leaf: One-pearl-per-brewing Bingdao raw pu'er is perfect for sitting down and brewing slowly.
• Elders or supervisors: A refined portion and a respectable format, and one pearl per brewing is easy to explain.
• Oolong drinkers: Bingdao tea is sweet, gentle, and aromatic, and many oolong lovers take to it easily. See Pu'er for Oolong Drinkers.
• Friends who want to get to know pu'er: No prying needed; just open and brew.

If the recipient never drinks tea, or prefers things as simple as possible, the Pu'er Pyramid Tea Bag Gift Box will be easier to get started with. Choosing by recipient is covered in Gifts by Recipient.

Include a Small Card with Your Gift

People who receive dragon pearls often ask, "How do I brew these?" Include a small card with a few lines, and they can start right away:

One 8 g pearl per 110–150 ml gaiwan or small pot. Rinse once with water at 95–100°C (203–212°F). First infusion 20–30 seconds; once the pearl opens, pour off after 10–15 seconds, then add 5–10 seconds per infusion. Without a gaiwan, use one pearl with 300–500 ml of hot water and pour it out after 1–2 minutes.

Add a reminder about storage: keep in a dry, cool place free of odors, not in the refrigerator.

Small Details for Gifting

• Confirm price and stock: The reference price is NT$ 6,800 (to be confirmed). Before giving it as a gift, please check the actual price, stock, and shipping time with our staff.
• Pair it with a gaiwan: For a friend just getting started, add a white porcelain gaiwan for a complete gift.
• Include the story of its origin: Bingdao Old Village is in Mengku, Lincang, Yunnan; a brief line or two of introduction gives the recipient more of a connection. The region is introduced in Bingdao Old Village: The Sweetness of Mengku.

More gift ideas are in Giving Pu'er Tea: A Heartfelt Gift.

FAQ

How should I store dragon pearls? Keep them sealed in the original packaging, put that in a lidded jar, and store it in a dry, cool, odor-free cabinet, with raw and ripe kept apart and not in the refrigerator.

How soon should I finish them after opening? Go by the expiration date on the package; after opening, keep them sealed and we recommend finishing them within a few months.

Can dragon pearls be aged? Raw pu'er transforms, but dragon pearls are better finished within a certain period; to observe changes, keep 1–2 and brew one every six months.

Who do they suit as a gift? Friends who enjoy whole-leaf tea, elders and supervisors, oolong drinkers, and anyone who wants to get to know pu'er without prying tea.