How does the thickness and smoothness of ripe Pu'er tea come about?

YuanJia131

Many tea enthusiasts who enjoy drinking ripe Pu'er tea are drawn to its rich, smooth texture. The tea liquor doesn't have a thin, watery taste but rather a slightly thick, enveloping sensation that coats the tongue, making it exceptionally smooth to drink. They find it particularly appealing,
This soup-like texture does not come out of nowhere; it is closely related to the fermentation of ripe tea. During the pile fermentation process, certain substances in the tea leaves that were originally difficult to dissolve in water are gradually broken down and transformed, resulting in a richer tea infusion. Consequently, the tea tastes naturally thicker and smoother.

Therefore, well-fermented ripe tea should not only have a dark tea soup but also possess substance, sweetness, smoothness, and body, with the taste and mouthfeel remaining consistent throughout.
However, it is worth noting that richness and smoothness are not achieved by brewing dark tea to high concentrations, increasing the tea dosage, or steeping for extended periods, as such intensity does not equate to richness. True richness is attained with a standard tea dosage, proper infusion time, and a tea liquor that remains robust.