North, Central, South, and the Mountains: How Storing Tea Differs Across Taiwan
Within Taiwan alone, a Taipei apartment, a Kaohsiung townhouse, a seaside home in Keelung, and a guesthouse on Alishan offer very different conditions for storing pu'er. Understanding the climate where you live is more useful than copying someone else's method.
First, the Numbers: North and South
Based on the Central Weather Administration's 1991–2020 climate normals:
| Location | Average annual temperature | Average annual relative humidity |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | About 23.4°C | About 74.8% |
| Taichung | About 23.7°C | About 74.5% |
| Kaohsiung | About 25.4°C | About 75.0% |
| Alishan (altitude about 2,413 m) | About 11.4°C | About 86.1% |
Looking only at the annual averages, humidity in the north, center, and south is about the same; the real difference lies in the seasons.
How Storing Tea Differs Between Taipei and Kaohsiung
The North: Humid Even in Winter
In winter (roughly November to March), the northeast monsoon brings persistent drizzle to the north and northeast, so winter humidity isn't much lower than summer's; add the spring plum rains, and the north spends a longer part of the year "humid." Taipei tea drinkers should think of dehumidifying as a year-round task, not just a plum-rain-season one.
The South: Concentrated Summer Rain, Dry Winters
Central and southern Taiwan are mostly sunny and dry in winter, with rain concentrated in the summer months of May to October; about 90% of the south's annual rainfall falls in this period, compared with about 60% in the north. So for Kaohsiung tea drinkers, winter is often a good time to open boxes, air out, and sort their tea; in summer they face high heat plus the humidity of afternoon thunderstorms and typhoons.
The Effect of Temperature
Kaohsiung averages about 2°C warmer than Taipei over the year, so tea transforms a bit faster. That's not necessarily bad; it just means paying more attention to ventilation and avoiding stuffiness.
How to Store Tea by the Sea and in Humid Areas
In Keelung, Yilan, and coastal areas, the common situation is many rainy days, salt in the air, and walls that easily sweat. You can:
- Choose an interior room: Farther from exterior walls and windows, so wall dampness has less effect.
- Add a layer of wrapping: Keep the cotton paper on cakes, then put them in thick paper bags or zip bags (not completely sealed), inside a cardboard box.
- Run the dehumidifier often: Keep the storage room below 70% humidity, and check it with a thermo-hygrometer rather than going by feel.
- Raise boxes and keep them off walls: Don't put boxes directly on the floor or against walls.
Full humidity management methods are in Plum Rains, Typhoons, and Dehumidifying.
Is Storing Tea in the Mountains Better?
Some tea drinkers wonder: the mountains are cool, so isn't that better for storing tea? It depends on which mountains.
- High-altitude places that are often foggy: In a place like Alishan, temperatures are low, but average annual relative humidity can reach about 86%, with lots of cloud and mist; that's too humid for pu'er, which easily absorbs moisture and develops off flavors.
- Places that are cool but ventilated and dry: If humidity is under control, low temperatures slow transformation and the tea keeps more of its young fragrance, similar to the effect of Kunming storage.
So the mountains aren't necessarily better than the lowlands; the key is still humidity. Low temperature plus low humidity is the ideal combination.
Apartments vs. Townhouses
| Home type | Common conditions | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Middle floors of an apartment building | Relatively stable temperature and humidity | Choose a room or cabinet away from exterior walls |
| Ground floor of a townhouse | Rising damp from the floor, high humidity | Avoid storing tea, or always raise it and dehumidify |
| Top floor or rooftop addition of a townhouse | Sultry summers, west sun | Avoid storing tea |
| Basement | High humidity, poor ventilation | Not suitable |
| Upper floors of a high-rise | Good ventilation, but west-facing rooms get hot | Choose a room that doesn't get west sun |
In general, a spot that's in the interior, away from exterior walls, out of the west sun, and a little off the floor is the best place in a home to keep tea.
Principles That Apply Everywhere
- Buy a thermo-hygrometer for your tea cabinet; aim for about 55%–70% humidity and keep the temperature as stable as possible; the figures are summarized in Temperature and Humidity for Storing Pu'er.
- Keep raw and ripe tea separate, away from the kitchen, mothballs, and fragrances.
- Check once a month; if it smells clean and the surface is dry, all is well.
- Finish small portions early; dragon pearls and tea bags don't need long-term storage.
Basic storage methods are in How to Store Pu'er at Home, choosing containers in How to Choose Storage Containers, and the overall character of Taiwan storage in Taiwan Storage.
FAQ
How does storing pu'er differ between Taipei and Kaohsiung?
Average annual humidity is about the same (both around 75%), but Taipei is humid even in winter because of the northeast monsoon and needs year-round dehumidifying; Kaohsiung is dry in winter and muggy in summer, so the focus is on moisture control and ventilation in summer.
How should I store pu'er if I live by the sea?
Choose an interior room away from exterior walls, add a paper bag or zip bag around cakes and keep them in a cardboard box, run the dehumidifier often, and keep humidity below 70%.
Is it better to store tea in the mountains?
Not necessarily. Often-foggy high mountains like Alishan can average about 86% relative humidity, which is too humid for pu'er; only places that are cool and dry are suitable.
Which is better for storing tea, an apartment or a townhouse?
Middle floors of apartment buildings are usually more stable; a townhouse's ground floor tends to get rising damp and its top floor tends to be sultry with west sun, so avoid them or step up dehumidifying and insulation.