Pu'er Tea Knowledge

2026/08/29

Theaflavins, Thearubigins, and Theabrownin: Where Liquor Color Comes From

The deep, clear red of a cup of ripe pu'er comes mainly from theabrownin. From how catechins oxidize and polymerize step by step into theaflavins, thearubigins, and theabrownin, to how wodui, storage, and black tea fermentation differ, here are the pigments behind pu'er's liquor color.

2026/08/28

Caffeine: How Raw, Ripe, Young, Aged, and Brewing Method Compare

Dry pu'er contains about 3%–4% caffeine, and ripe tea doesn't have less than raw; in research it even has slightly more. How a cup of pu'er compares with a cup of coffee, how water temperature and time affect extraction, and whether rinsing removes caffeine, explained with experimental figures.

2026/08/28

Tea Polyphenols and Catechins: How the Source of Bitterness Changes

Tea polyphenols are the main source of pu'er's bitterness and astringency, and the largest group among them is catechins. Wodui reduces catechins by more than 90%, while raw tea changes slowly over years of aging. The national standard's polyphenol requirement, how much raw and ripe differ, and how catechins change with aging, explained with research figures.

2026/08/27

What's in Pu'er: An Overview of Its Main Constituents

A cake of pu'er contains tea polyphenols, amino acids, caffeine, sugars, pigments, aroma compounds, and minerals. How raw and ripe tea differ in composition, what water extract is, theanine and the savoriness of spring tea, and how amino acids change with aging: research figures that explain where each flavor comes from.

2026/08/27

Ancient-Tree, Large-Tree, and Terrace Tea: How They Differ

Pu'er is often marketed as "ancient-tree." How does it differ from large-tree and terrace tea? From tree age and cultivation to flavor, here's everything in one place.

2026/08/27

Can Pu'er Go in the Fridge? The Pros and Cons of Refrigerating and Freezing

Putting pu'er in the fridge generally isn't recommended: fridges are full of mixed smells, and the temperature difference when you take it out causes condensation. But when you want to keep the fresh aroma of young raw tea or store a small sample, refrigerating or freezing has its uses. How to bring chilled tea back to room temperature, when refrigeration makes sense, and how long cold-brewed tea keeps in the fridge.

2026/08/26

Plum Rains, Typhoons, and Dehumidifying: Managing Humidity for Tea in Taiwan

Taipei's monthly average relative humidity for 1991–2020 ranged from 70.7% to 78.0%, highest in February, and it's even damper around the plum rains and typhoons. Whether to run a dehumidifier, where to put a hygrometer, whether desiccants work, and whether an air-conditioned room suits tea, explained with figures from Taiwan's Central Weather Administration.

2026/08/26

Storing Dragon Pearls, Loose Tea, Tea Bags, and Xiao Qing Gan

Dragon pearls, loose tea, pyramid tea bags, and xiao qing gan come in small portions with a lot of surface area, so they absorb moisture and smells faster than whole cakes. How to store tea bags, whether xiao qing gan can mold, how many years dragon pearls keep, and whether loose tea absorbs moisture more easily than cakes: a guide to storing everyday small-format pu'er.

2026/08/26

Jingmai Mountain: A Thousand-Year-Old Tea Garden Under the Forest

In 2023, the Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, the first world cultural heritage site in the world dedicated to tea. Learn about the wisdom of growing tea under the forest canopy and the orchid aroma of Jingmai tea.

2026/08/26

Storing Opened Cakes and Pried Tea

A 357-gram cake is rarely finished in one go. Once it's opened, should the remaining half go back in its cotton paper? Where should pried pieces go? What is a resting jar, and how soon should pried tea be finished? Here's how to store a cake step by step, from whole to finished.

2026/08/25

Choosing Storage Containers: Cardboard Boxes, Ceramic Jars, Yixing Jars, Zip Bags, and Foil Bags

Is it better to store pu'er in a cardboard box or a ceramic jar? Do zip bags, foil bags, and vacuum packs stop tea from changing? Can wooden or plastic boxes be used? We compare common containers side by side according to two goals: letting tea change slowly, or keeping its current flavor.

2026/08/25

How Tea Absorbs and Transfers Odors: Why It Can't Be Stored with Other Things

Dry tea absorbs surrounding smells and moisture, so it easily picks up odors in the kitchen, in a wardrobe, or in new furniture. Keep raw and ripe tea apart and give different teas their own areas. A mild odor can slowly air out, but chemical smells are hard to get rid of completely.