SPECIAL REPORT - AN EMERGING DILEMMA(3)	Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

This fake Puerh teacake looks remarkably similar to that of a genuine Puerh teacake. Based on appearance alone it would be very difficult to detect.

From 2005 to 2007 the market peaked and the use of green tea leaves became more blatant. During this period Puerh teacakes contaminated with inferior leaves flooded the markets like never before. Few factories had the manpower and were willing to absorb the extra costs to ensure that the quality of their products would not be jeopardized. Most at risk are new and small factories that had recently opened in the hope of riding the Puerh wave. A combination of a lack of experience, connections and in some cases a low budget resulting in minimal production funds meant that these factories are often trapped into obtaining raw materials that contain inferior tea leaves.

It is extremely difficult to determine the scale of how widespread this emerging dilemma is as such an activity is normally kept well hidden. The truth however will be revealed with time. The green tea leaves do not possess the distinguished ageing potential of the native Yunnan big leaf and as a result little by little these inferior leaves are rotting. Eventually the rot will surface and with it the true quality and value of each teacake will be revealed.

Some experience Puerh tea collectors fear that the problem has gotten so out of hand they are now targeting teacakes that are at least 5 years old. Older teacakes by comparison are easier to validate and as a result risks can be minimized.

The 2 pictures show green tea leaves that have been imported into Yunnan Province.