"Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Most of us store Puerh right where we live - in our houses. Heater in the winter and AC in the summer dry out the air inside even though it might be humid outside. Since raw Pu needs some humidity to age properly, I thought I could take it outside and sit for a few hours here and there. Where I am, it's very humid in the summer (almost 100%, I'd say - at least that's what it feels like LOL). SO the question is: can those occasional humid treatments do any good to my aging raw Puerh or maybe it's all worthless. Post your 2cents here - any comments will be appreciated.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Aside from the bugs specially adapted to eat things with caffeine in them, caffeine is a pretty good ingestion insecticide.shah82 wrote:bugs.
Bugs aside, a little bit of humidity now and then isn't going to do much to awaken the microbes that age Pu, they need constant humidity. I keep my Pu in the same room as my plants (orchids) which I keep humidified all year round (It's ultra dry here in the desert).
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
I am conducting an experiment on six of my puerhs. (ones I am willing to sacrifice) I am giving them a steam bath 2-3 times a week. Each time I put them under a boiling pot and get them just a bit damp on both sides then I go to the next. By the time I get around to the first one again...it is dry...so I repeat the process 4-5 times, then I let them rest with wrapper open for 15mins or so...before I close them.
I want to see what happens in 6 months and then if all is well...one year. I actually started doing this once a long time ago and began to see results, but it was more haphazard....then I just forgot about it.
I want to see what happens in 6 months and then if all is well...one year. I actually started doing this once a long time ago and began to see results, but it was more haphazard....then I just forgot about it.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Who said anything about bugs eating the tea? What about the bugs living in 'em? A housebroken cockroach is nothing compared to some of the things can can come crawling in, especially dangerous things that like the shelter, like brown recluses.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Isn't that how they make cooked Puerh? Steaming/drying then repeat...puerhking wrote:I am conducting an experiment on six of my puerhs. (ones I am willing to sacrifice) I am giving them a steam bath 2-3 times a week.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
No...they pile ferment....essentially, compost loose leaf mao cha (rough tea). They spray down the piles with water and the naturally occurring bacteria/fungi take over, creating heat, further accelerating the process. It is then taken as far a the tea master wants...determining the amount of fermentation. Finally, they steam it into beengs or whatever shape...or keep it loose.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Steam might kill microbes ... depends on how long the area is steamed, but steam is basicly how autoclaving happens
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Speaking of aging, someone was sharing these info at the teashop...
There are some people from china who are exporting tea out from China in containers and renting a warehouse here in Malaysia to age the Pu.
The person has seen the photo of the warehouse which the location is not too far away from my house but exact address he doesn't know. I don't think people would just simply reveal it.
He said from the photos, the boxes are stack up high. And they will draw a straight line of red paint from top down on the outer box just to ensure no one has touched the pu. The warehouse is properly equipped with humidity and temperature control.
There are some people from china who are exporting tea out from China in containers and renting a warehouse here in Malaysia to age the Pu.
The person has seen the photo of the warehouse which the location is not too far away from my house but exact address he doesn't know. I don't think people would just simply reveal it.
He said from the photos, the boxes are stack up high. And they will draw a straight line of red paint from top down on the outer box just to ensure no one has touched the pu. The warehouse is properly equipped with humidity and temperature control.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
Why would you export pu to Malaysia to age it if you are going to use humidity and temp control? A warehouse with climate control in China is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Malaysia is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Timbuktu.auhckw wrote:Speaking of aging, someone was sharing these info at the teashop...
There are some people from china who are exporting tea out from China in containers and renting a warehouse here in Malaysia to age the Pu.
The person has seen the photo of the warehouse which the location is not too far away from my house but exact address he doesn't know. I don't think people would just simply reveal it.
He said from the photos, the boxes are stack up high. And they will draw a straight line of red paint from top down on the outer box just to ensure no one has touched the pu. The warehouse is properly equipped with humidity and temperature control.
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
No idea. But a good questionCatfur wrote:Why would you export pu to Malaysia to age it if you are going to use humidity and temp control? A warehouse with climate control in China is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Malaysia is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Timbuktu.auhckw wrote:Speaking of aging, someone was sharing these info at the teashop...
There are some people from china who are exporting tea out from China in containers and renting a warehouse here in Malaysia to age the Pu.
The person has seen the photo of the warehouse which the location is not too far away from my house but exact address he doesn't know. I don't think people would just simply reveal it.
He said from the photos, the boxes are stack up high. And they will draw a straight line of red paint from top down on the outer box just to ensure no one has touched the pu. The warehouse is properly equipped with humidity and temperature control.
Jul 22nd, '11, 23:32
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Location: Boston, MA
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
When natural conditions are good, cost of climate control is minimum. Currently in China, many people believe Malaysia is a rising star for "natural aging" or "(relatively) dry aging" of puerh.Catfur wrote: Why would you export pu to Malaysia to age it if you are going to use humidity and temp control? A warehouse with climate control in China is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Malaysia is the same as a warehouse with climate control in Timbuktu.
Big local market, hub effect, (relatively) affordable real estate prices are also considerations.
Jul 25th, '11, 16:27
Posts: 10
Joined: Jun 21st, '11, 15:52
Location: Bay Area, California
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
I live in northern California, which is pretty much dry all year round. Does that mean I won't be able to age the pu in my own house?
Re: "Selective" aging of raw Puerh
I also live in CA. It says 70% humidity 75F..tearabbit wrote:I live in northern California, which is pretty much dry all year round. Does that mean I won't be able to age the pu in my own house?
Shouldn't that be pretty much the perfect weather?
I do worry about my Pu at home also sometimes.