Smokiness and puerh

[debunix]

I've read several times now that smokiness is considered to be an undesirable feature of young puerhs. But one of the things I love about puerh is exactly that mild smokiness--not the heavy-handed version of a lapsong souchong, but a little that goes a long way. Will my currently pleasingly smoky young pus lose that if they're aging in a dry, airconditioned environment?

[entropyembrace]

I´m not sure...but I do have a 1994 Feng Qing raw puerh tuo and it´s a touch smoky...and Jing Tea Shop said it was dry stored.

[tingjunkie]

I'm with you. I like many younger puerhs when they are a touch smokey. Smokey, but not drying or astringent.

[nickE]

Will my currently pleasingly smoky young pus lose that if they're aging in a dry, airconditioned environment?

I suppose it depends on a few factors, but in my mind there are 2 kinds of smokiness.

• i. Smokiness that is a flavor in the tea itself. Many Xiaguan Puerhs have this, also the 0622. This smokiness often fits with tobacco flavors.
  ii. Smokiness that is caused from wood fires in farmer's houses. This smokiness is usually much more intense, not really desirable. The 2010 Guafengzhai from YS has some of this.

The former should stay smoky as it ages and picks up new flavors, although possibly anything could happen (Puerh can chang a LOT while aging). However, the latter tends to fade away eventually, or so I hear.

[TomVerlain]

Dry, air conditioned is not so good for tea.

How dry ?

I have some Xia Guan tous that are still a bit smokey 5 years on. I am in FL and the temp is high 70's, humidity, generaly 50-60's.

[Drax]

I agree w/ nickE -- that jives with other things I have read (also noting that most people tend to say "I hope the smokiness (fire-type) goes away...").

I have not had much personal experience with these problems, though. Or at least, I really enjoy the tobacco-y, or almost savory qualities of the XG teas.

I also agree w/ TomV on the dry, AC air not being so good for pu'erh. The fire-type smoky ones will probably lessen their smokiness, but the pu won't be aging (in the sense of maturing).

[debunix]

I live in Los Angeles, and my house has substantial temperature swings from poorly heated in the winter to not-air-conditioned summer heat, and the air is fairly dirty. In my office at work, I have space (an underused drawer) and steady temperatures plus the air is cleaner--at least, dust doesn't accumulate anywhere near as rapidly as at home.

How dry ?

But I've never checked how dry. I don't have a hygrometer to check.

[hop_goblin]

smoke is considered an acceptable defect generally brought about by using damp wood during the drying and whithering stage. That said, if you enjoy the smokiness by all means, enjoy -- no rules with tea. smoke will dissapate overtime, but VERY slowly. Enjoy!