What are the differences between loose-leaf Pu-erh tea and Pu-erh seven-piece cake tea? Which is better? How should one choose?
Many tea enthusiasts new to Pu-erh tea are likely familiar with cake tea. However, larger tea merchants, farmers, and local Pu-erh tea vendors often offer loose-leaf Pu-erh tea, which is commonly referred to as loose tea in the industry. Sometimes, when tea enthusiasts buy cake tea, I like to send them some loose tea to sample and see which flavor suits them best. In fact, both loose-leaf and cake tea have their advantages. Today, let's look at the differences between loose-leaf and cake tea and how to choose between them.
Loose-leaf tea has a higher degree of leaf integrity, allowing for better observation of the dry tea leaves and the shape of the infused leaves during brewing. Furthermore, it can be customized according to customer needs, avoiding unnecessary waste and maximizing the profit of the seller. Therefore, in Yunnan, merchants or tea farmers who focus on quality generally store loose-leaf tea and press it into cakes for sale when customers request it. Cake tea, on the other hand, is more durable for storage and takes up less storage space. Many manufacturers or tea merchants selling mass-market products choose to press tea into cakes to reduce storage costs.
Differences in Processing Techniques
Loose tea, as the raw material for Pu-erh cake tea, undergoes a steaming process during processing. This steaming reduces the low-boiling-point aromas in the tea leaves, resulting in a slight decrease in the herbal aromas of the cake tea.
Cake tea, during processing, not only undergoes high-temperature steaming but also gravity extrusion. This process breaks down the cell walls of the tea leaves, allowing their internal substances to leach out.
The flavor of Pu-erh tea is related to the mountain and tea variety, but its processing method plays a crucial role. Even with the same processing methods, the taste of loose tea and pressed tea will differ significantly.
Loose tea, because it is not steamed, retains its low-boiling-point aromatic substances better. Therefore, generally speaking, loose-leaf tea has a stronger aroma than compressed tea, better preserving its original fragrance and sweetness. Overall, loose-leaf tea is more assertive and stimulating, making it more popular among younger people.
On the other hand, compressed Pu-erh tea, due to steaming and pressing, has fewer low-boiling-point aromatic compounds, resulting in a slightly weaker aroma compared to loose-leaf tea. This aroma is primarily composed of the downy and fresh notes. The bitterness and astringency of the tea soup are also reduced, and the fullness of the soup is improved, including increased mellowness and sweetness, as well as enhanced fruity and sweet aromas. Compared to loose-leaf tea, compressed tea offers a more mellow, restrained, and less stimulating experience.
There are also differences in the storage process between loose-leaf and compressed tea.
Due to its form, loose-leaf tea transforms much faster during storage, especially in the past few years. Loose-leaf tea could show noticeable changes every three to six months, while compressed tea ages much more slowly due to its compression. Under Yunnan storage conditions, changes generally occur every three years. In Guangdong's environment, noticeable changes occur approximately every six months to a year.
Of course, rapid transformation of loose tea can also have negative consequences. As mentioned earlier, Pu-erh tea doesn't have an expiration date, but it does have an optimal drinking period. If the rate of transformation exceeds the rate of consumption, the quality of the tea soup will decline. In this case, the Pu-erh tea won't become more fragrant with age but rather become weaker. Therefore, for long-term transformation, compressed tea cakes are better. Prolonged storage of loose tea leads to significant loss of aromatic compounds, resulting in a noticeable decline in tea soup quality. However, within three to five years, this isn't a major issue.
Compressed tea cakes, besides better preservation and aroma retention as mentioned earlier, allow more of their internal substances to be extracted during the pressing process, providing more material for transformation. They also maintain a more stable temperature and humidity, making them more suitable for long-term storage, and the tea soup has greater versatility. Therefore, tea lovers who prioritize long-term storage and a richer tea soup flavor should store more compressed tea cakes.
Therefore, when choosing Pu'er tea, tea lovers can choose according to their own taste and try different kinds to find the flavor that suits them best.
Tea lovers who prioritize long-term storage and a richer tea soup flavor should store more compressed tea cakes.
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