Optimal Humidity Levels for Pu Erh Tea Storage

There are several types of tea available on the market. Tea is one of the world’s most popular drinks, with several civilizations putting their own twist on it.

Pu erh tea, commonly known as Puer tea, is a kind of fermented tea that was historically made in China’s Yunnan region.

Once the tea leaves had been properly dried and rolled, the Chinese would begin with microbial fermentation. You should be aware that the tea continues to oxidize as a result of the microbial fermentation process.

Tea farmers take great care to halt the oxidation process when the optimal levels of taste are obtained.

However, before we discuss how to properly preserve Pu erh tea, it is crucial to learn and respect the history of this unique mix of tea.

The History

Travelers traveling through China’s ancient trade routes would often darken the tea leaves in order to trade with the ethnic groups located along the border areas.

Many of them were mainly crude teas obtained at a low cost, and they were also obtained from various sources.

The tourists would exchange these teas on their own behalf, selling or bartering them for other items. This technique was common near China’s southern borders and remained popular until the 1990s.

However, you should be aware that there was no defined technique for darkening the tea leaves at the time.

Pu erh tea processing, although easy and reasonably simple, was a little tricky since the tea itself is classified in two ways: Sheng Cha, which is the raw variety, and Shu Cha, which is the ripe form.

The tea is created from a common Chinese tea leaf found in numerous mountains and areas along different portions of Yunnan Province’s southern and western borders.

The Maocha, or tea leaf, could be sold straight into markets as loose leaf tea, while many would frequently darken the leaves by fermenting it, allowing them to demand a considerably greater price in the market.

You should know that this fermented black tea is one of six distinct varieties of tea found in China. When it comes to teas in this nation, it is in a class by itself.

Needless to say, given the unique way in which this sort of tea is created, it is critical to realize that the method for keeping the tea is also extremely distinct.

You should be aware that this tea is well-known for its ability to age, and it is critical that you realize that storing it in the cabinet is a poor idea.

There are other crucial aspects to consider, such as the humidity and temperature levels in the cabinet or storage space where the tea is stored.

For example, you must ensure that the tea is stored away from objects that emit strong scents.

What About Humidity?

Understanding the ideal humidity levels for this sort of tea is critical, particularly if you want to keep it in your home. You should be aware that the recommended humidity levels for keeping Pu erh tea should be between 50% and 75%.

However, it is critical to remember that humidity levels should never be considered in isolation; they must always be considered in conjunction with temperature.

When the temperature is at 30 degrees Celsius, for example, the humidity level should be around 50%. This would be appropriate for the tea. However, when the temperature drops to roughly 20 degrees Celsius, humidity levels should be around 75%.

Remember that humidity outside is likely to be unpredictable and will vary considerably across different places. For example, during the monsoon, or rainy season, in the eastern portions of China, humidity levels are likely to exceed 75%, owing to the environment formed by warm ocean air.

The humidity level might then approach 95% in certain parts of South China. When the weather becomes very humid, it may be a good idea to keep your windows closed for extended periods of time. Avoid leaving the windows open for too long, since this may cause the humidity to rise.

Remember that interior humidity is often lower than outside humidity, so keeping the windows closed may be a good option. You can control the humidity levels in your storage room by doing a few simple things.

When humidity levels rise, the Pu erh storage compartment should be appropriately enclosed with a desiccant or moisture absorbent substance put within. You may use either charcoal or quicklime for this, since both are quite effective.

If there is a lot of wetness, you might think about using a dehumidifier. It is also critical to avoid keeping the Pu erh tea on the floor.

Many individuals make the common error of dropping their carton of Pu erh tea on the floor. Remember that floors are usually more humid than the air in the room.

When the temperature in the room drops, the humidity in the air condenses and falls to the floor. As a result, leaving it on the floor is a bad idea.

Even if you do not store the tea in a closet, it is critical that you choose an appropriate area with enough insulation.

When the weather gets dry, you’ll need to perform a few extra things to keep the humidity levels stable. Here are some basic concepts to understand.

It is a good idea to use a humidifier in the storage area. Remember that keeping the Pu erh tea near a humidifier would only cause it to get extremely humid, thereby ruining the tea.

It could be a good idea to have a glass or two of water around to boost humidity in a certain area. The slowly draining water will very marginally raise the humidity. You might also try placing a tray filled with rocks and water inside.

The pebbles will get heated, increasing the temperature, which will cause the water to evaporate, increasing the humidity in the area.

Finally, you should preserve the Pu erh tea in tight plastic bags, especially if the weather is very dry. If the quantity of tea you wish to preserve is little, this may be a good option.

Temperature

Aside from humidity, another crucial factor to consider is the temperature at which the Pu erh tea is stored.

Temperature has a significant influence on total fermentation speed because as the temperature rises, the fermentation speed rises, and when the temperature falls, the fermentation speed rises.

when a result, when the rate of fermentation rises, the tea will become sour. The good news is that Pu erh tea prefers appropriate temperatures as compared to humans, so you don’t need to make any particular preparations for keeping the tea.

Ideally, the temperature in the location where you keep the Pu erh tea should be between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. This is simply accomplished without any form of man-made intervention, making it quite simple for the typical individual to preserve the tea in their home.

You only need to select a cabinet where the temperature will stay reasonable and within these two criteria, and you are ready to begin. If that is not the case, and you reside in a nation that experiences extreme heat or cold, it may be a good idea to utilize an air conditioner or a heater.

If you reside in a place where the weather is very hot, you should store the jar of Pu erh tea in a room where the air conditioner is regularly turned on.

If you live in a nation where the weather stays frigid all year, you may wish to store the jar in a location where the heater is kept on.

Remember to keep the tea away from the air conditioner or radiator since keeping it near a source of cold or warmth will merely make things worse and the tea may begin to ferment or the process may slow down.

When keeping this tea, you must preserve equilibrium, therefore put it in a corner.