Many tea enthusiasts have a common question: Is Pu'er tea better when it's blended or single-origin? In the subconscious of most Chinese people, pure bloodlines are considered superior.
What is Blended and Single-Origin Tea?
Popular terms in the Pu'er tea industry include small production areas, famous mountains, and ancient single-origin… Among these, “ancient single-origin” is the most beautiful yet dangerous term.
Strictly speaking, single-origin refers to tea leaves of the same grade picked from the same tree at the same time. However, following this standard, the tea leaves from one tree would hardly make a few cakes of tea. The large quantities of so-called ancient tree single-origin teas that can be sold for years make “single-origin” a somewhat misleading term to some extent.
Blended tea, on the other hand, refers to tea leaves from different origins but the same quality, or from the same origin but different grades, mixed according to a specific formula. During the production process, the blender combines the characteristics of the tea to create unique blends with distinct color, aroma, taste, and appearance.
Comparison of Pros and Cons, and Common Blends
Single-Origin Tea
Advantages
△ Easy to identify
△ Unlikely to have impurities in the tea quality itself
△ Uniform color and neat appearance
△ Aging potential is predictable and controllable
Disadvantages
△ Limited aroma and taste, lacking complexity
△ Shorter brewing time compared to high-quality blended teas
△ Limited quantity
Blended Tea
Advantages
○ Mass-produced
○ Greater complexity in taste and aroma
○ Enhanced aroma and taste through blending
○ Distinct from single-origin teas, providing a fresh experience
Disadvantages
○ Requires skill; otherwise, it may result in impurities
○ Color inconsistency possible
○ May produce thin broth after brewing
Common Blends
☆ Seasonal blending (spring, summer, autumn)
☆ Variety blending (terrace-grown and ancient trees)
☆ Grade blending (topping), which can reduce costs and improve aesthetics
☆ Age blending, stabilizing quality and enhancing taste
☆ Fermentation degree blending, enhancing taste
☆ Mountain blending (mountain character)
Blending has its charm, and single-origin has its spirit
Each mountain has its own flavor, emotion, and character. People have different preferences, which leads to the pursuit of “perfect” blended teas. This “perfection” is only a personal preference, a limited form of perfection based on individual taste.
Blending is about refining one's taste and emotions; while single-region, single-mountain, single-process, or even single ancient tea tree, all embody the spirit of purity. There is no right or wrong between “blended” and “single-origin.” Different taste preferences, economic considerations, and sensory needs all influence our choice of tea. What matters most is finding a tea you enjoy, buying it happily, and drinking it with satisfaction!