Connoisseurs always say that fresh tea is distinguished by the most outstanding taste and content of valuable and useful substances. Freshness in this case means that the leaves were harvested and processed in the same year they went on sale.
Most people drink last year's inexpensive tea that has been stored for an entire season after harvest and production, which negatively affects the health and taste of the drink. It is worth noting here that we are talking specifically about white, yellow and green teas, which are not stored for a long time. If they are stored for too long time, they begin to lose the versatility of their aroma, the taste becomes "flat", monotonous, and the richness of the flavor bouquet is lost. If you drink milk oolong or pu-erh, then it may be last year. In the case of oolong teas, the rule of fresh teas does not always work, as they are fermented and take time to mature. It is better not to store poorly fermented oolongs for a long time, however, highly fermented oolongs, as well as pu-erh tea, only get better from long-term storage. Some connoisseurs are even willing to pay serious sums for long-aged oolongs and pu-erhs. In this respect, these drinks can be easily compared to a good perennial wine.
As for green, white and yellow teas, their beneficial properties begin to deteriorate from long storage. If the best pu-erh tea is tea that has been kept for at least five years, then the best green tea is tea leaves that were harvested and made in the same season in which you drank them. The taste of a fresh drink cannot be compared with old teas: it is filled with lightness, versatility of floral aromas, has a clear transparent color, and is a real delight for lovers of exquisite tastes.
Experts point out that the best time to buy teas is in May. Usually, good mature varieties appear on sale by May, and in early spring there is a risk of purchasing unripe tea, the taste of which will be weak and herbaceous. When buying, always pay attention to what the tea leaves look like. Fresh leaves always have a bright and rich hue, they may even have a slight gloss, they are very fragrant. Last year's leaves fade, darken, their aroma becomes less pronounced. The brewing of last year's tea gives a rather dark and cloudy infusion. If fresh leaves are brewed, the infusion will be clear and amber.
Of course, it is a fresh drink that has a healing effect, because fresh leaves contain the maximum amount of vitamins, trace elements, minerals and antioxidants.
