Storage Standards: Pu'er City's and Xishuangbanna's Warehouse Specifications

The question people who store tea ask most is: "What temperature and humidity are actually right?" Open the national standard for pu'er and you'll find the clauses are written in very general terms. The documents that actually give numbers are Yunnan's prefecture- and city-level local standards.

Is There an Official Storage Standard?

Yes, but at several levels:

What the National Standard Says

GB/T 22111-2008 gives only principles for storage: the warehouse should be clean, ventilated, away from light, dry, and free of odors, and pu'er is suitable for long-term storage under proper storage conditions. The clauses don't give temperature or humidity, because climates vary so much from place to place that a single set of numbers would be hard to apply.

Another national standard, GB/T 30375-2013 Tea Storage, published December 31, 2013 and in effect June 22, 2014, is a storage standard shared by all tea types and gives warehouse conditions for each type separately.

What Temperature Does Pu'er City's Specification Give?

In 2020, Pu'er City issued DB5308/T 53-2020 Technical Specification for Pu'er Tea Storage, one of the few official documents to spell out numbers:

• Warehouse temperature: 25°C or below.
• Relative humidity: 70% or below.
• Raised off the floor: Stacks at least 10 centimeters off the ground, on pallets to keep out ground moisture.
• Inspection: Check the stacks and warehouse at least once a month.
• Environment: Following the national standard's principles of ventilation, darkness, and freedom from odors.

This specification was abolished on August 20, 2026. Abolition doesn't mean the numbers were wrong, only that it's no longer a current standard; the principles it set out are still a reference for many tea warehouses.

Xishuangbanna's Specification

In 2022, Xishuangbanna Prefecture issued DB5328/T 22-2022 Technical Specification for Pu'er Tea Warehousing. According to the official press release, storage is mainly at ambient temperature with relative humidity of no more than 70%, and it sets requirements for warehouse siting, construction, receiving and dispatch, and day-to-day management. Xishuangbanna has a warm climate, so the focus of this specification is controlling humidity so tea transforms steadily at natural temperatures.

The Tea Association's Recommendation

The China Tea Marketing Association recommends a range of 20–25°C and 55%–75% relative humidity for pu'er storage, with good ventilation, darkness, and no odors. This is an industry recommendation, not a mandatory standard, but it points in the same direction as the two local specifications.

These Numbers in Taiwan

Taipei's average annual temperature is about 24°C, and its average annual relative humidity is roughly 71%–78%, higher during the spring plum rains and in summer. Compared with the numbers above, Taiwan's temperatures mostly fall within range, but humidity is often on the high side. So when storing tea in Taiwan, the focus is almost entirely on keeping moisture out:

• Use a thermo-hygrometer to confirm the actual numbers; it's more reliable than going by feel.
• In seasons when humidity stays above 70%, use a dehumidifier or a dry cabinet to keep it around 60%–70%.
• Keep tea off the floor and away from walls, and not near the kitchen, bathroom, or closets.

Specific methods for storing tea at home are in Temperature and Humidity for Storing Pu'er and How to Store Pu'er at Home. The difference between dry and wet storage is covered in Dry Storage and Wet Storage.

Are These Specifications Still in Force?

• GB/T 22111-2008: In force; it remained valid after a 2025 review.
• GB/T 30375-2013: In force.
• DB5308/T 53-2020: Abolished August 20, 2026.
• DB5328/T 22-2022: A Xishuangbanna Prefecture local standard; check announcements from the local market regulation authority when looking it up.

What the Specifications Don't Cover

Standards govern warehouses, not flavor. In the same 25°C, 65% environment, teas of different raw material and different pressing tightness will transform at different speeds. Guyuntang's advice: use the numbers as a baseline and tasting as your judge. Brew the tea every so often and note how it changes.

FAQ

Is there an official storage standard for pu'er? The national standard only says clean, ventilated, dark, dry, and odor-free; local specifications from Pu'er City and Xishuangbanna Prefecture give temperature and humidity figures.

What temperature does Pu'er City's specification give? DB5308/T 53-2020 specifies a warehouse temperature of 25°C or below, relative humidity of 70% or below, at least 10 centimeters off the floor, and monthly checks. It was abolished on August 20, 2026.

What is Xishuangbanna's warehousing specification? DB5328/T 22-2022 Technical Specification for Pu'er Tea Warehousing, based on ambient-temperature storage with relative humidity of no more than 70%.

What humidity should I store pu'er at in Taiwan? You can follow the principle of 70% or below. Taiwan often exceeds that in spring and summer, so keeping it around 60%–70% with a dehumidifier or dry cabinet is the safer approach.