Chenpi (dried tangerine peel) white tea is widely popular among tea lovers for its sweet aftertaste and rich medicinal aroma. However, some drinkers find a distinct sour taste in the tea. This situation is usually not a quality issue with the tea leaves themselves but is caused by the following three core factors.
1. Insufficient Age of Chenpi
Chenpi naturally contains fruit acids and citric acid. During the aging process, these acidic components gradually decompose and transform over time, and the taste shifts from sour and astringent to mellow and sweet. If the Chenpi used is of a low age (such as under 3 years), the fruit acids have not yet fully transformed, resulting in a noticeable sour taste in the brewed tea.
2. Mold and Deterioration Due to Improper Storage
Both Chenpi and white tea are highly absorbent and easily absorb moisture from the air. If the storage environment is humid or not tightly sealed, Chenpi white tea can easily become damp. Damp Chenpi white tea may develop mold under the action of microorganisms, leading to sour, bitter, or other unpleasant off-flavors. In this case, for health reasons, it is not recommended to continue drinking.
3. Impact of Brewing Details
Water temperature and steeping time during brewing also affect the extraction of sourness.
- High Water Temperature: Although high temperatures are recommended for white tea, excessively high temperatures will accelerate the dissolution of residual fruit acids in the Chenpi.
- Excessive Steeping Time: Acidic substances in Chenpi are released relatively quickly. If steeped for too long, the sour taste in the tea will become more prominent, masking the original sweetness of the white tea.
Summary and Advice
To avoid sourness in Chenpi white tea, first, you should purchase well-aged (over 5 years) authentic Chenpi for pairing. Second, be sure to store it in a dry, ventilated, and odor-free environment. When brewing, pay attention to controlling the amount of tea and the speed of pouring the tea, and avoid long steeping times to enjoy the true mellow aroma and sweetness of Chenpi white tea.