Pu-erh Tea Article - Detecting Bad Pu-erh Tea	Page 1 | 2 | 3

Seizures of fake Pu-erh tea have risen amidst escalating demand and soaring prices for Pu-erh tea.

The fact that Pu-erh tea is a food item and is used for consumption is all the more reason to be vigilant and advocate caution when dealing with dubious teas. Bad Pu-erh tea is dangerous and will do you more harm than good. Walking away with an empty wallet and knowing when to cut your losses is far better than to continuously expose yourself to a substandard food item containing harmful bacteria, toxic and chemical elements that can have an impact on your personal health and well being. Possessing the knowledge and awareness to detect and identify bad Pu-erh tea is essential.

Mold and fungi infection are common problems stemming from bad storage conditions.

APPEARANCE - The first step in evaluating Pu-erh tea is to examine the dry leaf appearance. Two most common and noticeable problems that cause bad Pu-erh tea are molds and insect infestations. Appearances of odd discolored spots or a downy, furry coating are clear signs of mold and fungi infection associated with unwanted dampness and decay. Teacakes containing small holes or big cracks littered with fine dust particles are clear signs of insect infestation. continue