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Teapots: the right utensils for storing Chinese tea. Where and how to store elite varieties of China...

Tea gourmets and lovers of Chinese elite varieties can not only brew, but also properly store valuable raw materials. Among beginners and fans of ordinary teas, there is a misconception that dry tea leaves are long – term storage products, and it is not necessary to create any special conditions for them. Attention!!! Proper storage is one of the important factors that keep the taste and aroma properties of raw materials at the proper level. If the rules are violated, not only the corresponding notes of taste and aroma are lost, but also valuable properties are lost. Tea becomes just a "drink", without the elite, healing elements. The meaning of its use is completely lost. To avoid this, we suggest that you pay more attention to the information below.

Initially we will remember the main varieties of Chinese tea:

• Puer,
• Oolong,
• White,
• Yellow,
• Green,
• Red,
• Black teas.

They are all stored differently. But before we go to the secrets of their storage, let's remind ourselves and "tea" beginners how to distinguish fresh tea from old, low-quality. This reminder will not be superfluous, since we do not recommend storing "fake" raw materials.

Let's say you buy Chinese tea of elite varieties in Kiev or Ukraine. Today, they are sold both in special stores and in wholesale and retail Internet resources. With any of them You can arrange a tea ceremony. Question: will the drink match the freshness and naturalness inherent in it? This applies to the taste, aroma, and" live " notes present in every elite Chinese tea. Show yourself a professional! Evaluate the raw materials for the main reasons, and you will understand what is in front of You:

• The leaves of fresh tea feel fresh, there is a bright color, beautiful shape, dense structure. The old ones have a dull color, different shapes, and a solid structure.
• if you touch fresh tea – it is alive and soft. When rubbed on the palm, it does not crumble quickly. The formation of lumps and balls means that the leaf is not dry, and it will be problematic to store it. The leaves of old tea are dry, easily turning into crumbs.
• If the leaves with a jagged edge are quickly unfolded when brewing, the transparent solution gives a jade, and later a yellowish hue, the aroma shows purity, and the taste is soft – you have a fresh tea in front of you. Old raw materials give a muted aroma, a muddy infusion with a dull yellow tint. Leaves are flaccid, without a specific shape.
• Real tea, unlike fake tea, has a distinctive aroma provided by essential oils and Thein.

So, you have made an assessment of the raw materials. We hope that the purchase did not disappoint. Now the question is how to store it. But, initially, it is important to consider one thing: before ordering tea, ask the seller: where does he store raw materials? The answer is correct - in the refrigerator (except Puer). If tea is stored in glass jars – it has already lost its original properties.

Now the next step: for example, You ordered 200 grams of green tea – what kind of packaging does the seller put it in? There is a professional and non-professional type. We need a professional one. These are special tea bags that are tightly sealed, metallized, completely sealed, keeping the vacuum inside, preventing moisture, high temperature, light, specific odors, and microbes from getting inside. If the seller provides these accessories-feel free to order tea!

And now about the General rules for storing elite Chinese varieties of tea:

• Tea doesn't like open air! (with the exception of PU'er) The ideal option for this is the same sealed packaging or a special < b>porcelain teapot for storing tea< / b>. Its tight-fitting lid will protect the raw material from oxygen penetration, preventing the tea from being toxically reborn.
• Light is the enemy of tea! Elite products prefer darkness, so never use glass dishes to store them. Sunlight and UV rays cause irreparable damage to tea leaves: the smell and taste change. The correct option is a porcelain teapot for storing tea. Opaque porcelain is one of the best materials that protect the "product of the middle Kingdom" from light.
• Tea leaves containing terpenes and porous substances easily absorb foreign odors, while losing their native quality of taste and aroma. Therefore, keep raw materials away from seasonings, spices, alcohol and other smelling substances. At the same time, each variety should not fall under the influence of the other. An excellent solution is a tightly closed porcelain teapot that provides complete isolation with raw materials.
• Avoid high humidity! Yes, Chinese teas, especially white, green, yellow, red, Oolong (except Puer) are sensitive to humidity. Their storage location should be dry. If the humidity level exceeds 60%, the leaves will begin to regenerate and acquire negative toxicity, which will simply be impossible to correct. Sources of high humidity include both a boiling kettle and a dishwasher. The perfect option is an impenetrable porcelain teapot that does not allow a drop of water to pass to the tea leaves!
• Raw materials "do not like" heat! For him, the priority is a light coolness. High temperature deprives tea of useful properties, destroying the polyphenols contained. This is especially true for green, white, yellow, and light Oolongs that prefer room temperature (+10 + 12°). Keep the tea leaves in the porcelain teapot away from any heating devices (electric, gas, microwave) and the taste and aroma of Chinese tea will delight You with true excellence! The ideal place is a refrigerator. And this is very important, especially in the climatic conditions of Ukraine, when the heating is constantly running in the cold seasons.
• as for the shelf life: in a vacuum package-the best period is 4 months, in a porcelain teapot-2-3 weeks. Black and red teas can be stored much longer.

After getting acquainted with the General storage conditions of elite Chinese teas, you can make a simple conclusion: porcelain teapot – an indispensable attribute for saving high-quality raw materials purchased in Kiev and Ukraine, but delivered from the tea provinces of China. It is not only functional, but also aesthetically beautiful! Like any porcelain item, it is associated with prestige and well-being. Teapot not only looks stylish and spectacular in the kitchen interior, but also is a great decoration for both everyday and festive table. It will lift your mood even on the most cloudy day! Its exotic beauty evokes positive emotions, reminding You of your stable financial capabilities and good taste, which you can brag about not only to your family members, but also to your guests. This item of kitchen utensils will never be left without attention! Original colorful drawings on porcelain, such as a fairy-tale dragon, give the products a special charm and artistic value. Such drawings during tea ceremonies will help you relax, move away from vanity and everyday problems, "plunge" into the world of dreams and dreams. And even fairy tales! With them, a special atmosphere is created in the house, full of warmth, comfort, lightness and romance.

Do not forget about the practicality and convenience of a porcelain teapot. Light ceramics are not only environmentally friendly, but also easy to use. Wash easily, RUB with love, and it will delight You for a long time!

Now the question "where to buy a tea pot?", You know the answer. We have a specialized wholesale and retail online store "PuerShop", the owner and employees of which respect each client, putting him in the rank of "friends-consumers" of elite Chinese tea varieties, conquering the taste and aroma of beauty, famous all over the world! Remember: < i>expensive tea needs to be stored not only correctly, but also beautifully! He loves attention and tea ceremonies with fine dishes and a positive mood! Only in this case, he fully gives everything that he has!

cost of a tea pot... As you can see, the price of a porcelain product is quite concise. This purchase can afford any housewife who prefers to have in their home Arsenal dishes of good quality, made in the original Eastern motifs. Aesthetes are not impressed by its elegant forms and snow-white material for nothing!

And finally, we can not say about the storage of Puer. It is individual!!! Tea lovers know that over the years, the astringency, herbiness and bitterness of young Puer leaves. In their place, sweetness and softness appear, and the aroma acquires nutty, fruity notes. PU-erh is a unique strain. With proper and comfortable storage, it will surprise with its versatile taste for many years: every year it will become tastier, brighter and more effective. To a greater extent, this applies to" Shen", since the" Shu "of Puer are already" aged " and it does not make sense to store them for years. However, this information is of two types, since "Puer pancakes" are not drunk immediately, and they are in the house for a certain time.

What conditions are ideal for Puer?

• He needs fresh air! If with other teas it is the opposite – they should be completely isolated, PU-erh "does not like" sealed, air-tight tea bags and teapots. Otherwise, there is a great risk to get out of the package is not a fragrant raw material, but a sour pancake that gives an incomprehensible taste and a muddy infusion. In such conditions, it can become moldy. Conclusion: the Puer in need of free space.
• Puer-tea with infinite fermentation, which involves oxygen, microorganisms, and enzymes. He is "alive" in the full sense of the word. For beginners-the fermentation process is excellent at a certain humidity (ideally: up to 60%). When the air is dry, fermentation stops and all bacteria and fungi die. The raw material is oxidized, acquires a dark color and a significant astringency in the taste. Too high humidity is also dangerous: under its influence, mold appears, "pancake" spoils.
• Optimum temperature. Puer, as a person, feels great at a temperature of + 20 + 22°. At very high degrees, the fungi become too active; at low degrees, they stop their activity. As you know, both of them significantly harm tea leaves, therefore, adversely affects the taste, aroma and healing properties of the drink.
• PU-erhs "I love you" company! Only your own! Shen-Shen, Shu-Shu. What they respond to very well: the old to the young. In this case, there is a high probability that the maturation of young leaves is accelerated.
• Elite PU-erh, like everything prestigious, first-class, prefers increased attention to itself. This does not mean that you should sing sirens to him. But, occasionally check whether everything is OK with it, it is worth it.And don't forget – he doesn't like dust! Just store it in its "native" packaging.
• As with every Chinese tea, PU-erh (both loose and pressed) is negatively affected by foreign odors. It is simply impossible to get rid of them later! Never store PU-erh near spices, coffee, or other types of tea. Their flavors will settle in the Puer raw material, and it will forever lose its taste and aroma of elitism.
• Light. If other varieties are afraid of it, like fire, this species loves the sun and artificial light rays. Their photons accelerate the oxidation and change the tea-the infusion becomes reddish, the taste becomes sour.
• where to store Puer? You will be surprised, but the best place for his "life" is a wooden bookcase. Tea pancakes can be stored in it for up to 4 years, and you can break off a piece of them every year and evaluate the taste and aroma properties. Believe me, even a few months affects the infusion. If the "Puer pancake" eventually becomes "oak" - the best option is to hold it over the steam until a little soft.

Do not be skeptical about the storage conditions. They have been developed for centuries. And only their observance allows us not to violate the value of Chinese tea, which can not only enrich the body as a whole with useful substances, but also allow each of us to enjoy the taste and aroma of once "Imperial" drinks.