Charting the Evolution of Age Puerh Tea

Have you ever considered how an age puerh tea evolves over time? What would constitute as a benchmark in the drinkability of puerh tea at different stages of its maturity? As a puerh tea enthusiast and collector, how you see this playing out will greatly influence how you approach the selection of puerh tea for enjoyment and storage. The charts below capture 4 general scenarios in the most basic form. What is true, false … possible or unrealistic? These are some of the beliefs and perceptions from puerh enthusiasts that I have come across.    Chart 1: The chart shows a tea that starts with high drinkability but thereafter drops off over time.   Chart 2: The chart shows a tea starting with low drinkability, improves over time, reaching a peak and thereafter goes into decline. Chart 3: The chart shows a tea starting with low drinkability, improves over time, reaching a peak and thereafter is able to maintain its optimal state. Chart 4: The chart shows a tea starting with high drinkability and thereafter is able to maintain its optimal state over time.   Note: It is noteworthy to mention that the evolution of puerh tea produced under Menghai Tea Factory (Pre-2004) is captured under Chart 2. This revered category of puerh tea can be traced back to the 1950s.