Pu-erh is one of the few teas that can improve with age. Southeast Asia’s warm, humid weather can speed up ageing – but it can also cause mould if storage is careless.

The basics

• Keep it clean and odour-free: tea absorbs smells easily – never store it near the kitchen, spices or perfumes.
• Keep it dark: avoid direct sunlight.
• Mind the humidity: roughly 60–70% relative humidity is a common target. During very wet months, store cakes in their wrappers inside a box or clay jar, off the floor and away from walls.
• Steady temperature: avoid places that heat up a lot, such as near windows or under the roof.
• Check occasionally: white fluffy spots or a musty smell are signs of mould – separate that cake immediately.

Raw vs ripe

Raw (sheng) pu-erh changes most over the years, while ripe (shou) pu-erh is ready to drink now and simply gets smoother. Many people keep a few raw cakes for ageing and ripe pu-erh for daily drinking.