Traditonal Puer Tea Storage Jars

Pottery made by Dai People in Xishuangbanna for Puer Tea Storage.

These traditional Dai earthenware jars are  ideal for storing Puerh tea. They are hand made and fired in a wood kiln.  The variation in colour comes from the difference in temperature in different parts of the kiln. Black jars are fired to a higher temperature so maintain a lower moisture content.

We sell  jars in a variety of sizes that are made to traditional patterns. We can also have them made to order. If you have specific requirements please contact us with your details in order that we may assist you.

Please use our contact form if you wish to order pottery.

Note: ‘Uncooked’ or Raw Puer tea should not be stored with 'Cooked' or shou Puer.

Small Round Storage Jar with 'stupa' style lid.  6cm tall and 15cm diameter. 250g.

They are a good size for storing loose leaf tea.

Small Round Storage Jar. 12cm tall and 15cm diameter. 700g.
These jars are deal for storing leaf tea and will accomodate around 350g of loose leaf.

Large Puer Tea Storage Jar

Large terracotta earthenware jars are 40cm tall and approximately 38-40cm in diameter. 7.5kg

These pots are made in hand - built, charcoal fired kilns, so there are many variables in the firing process. The colour of the pot is determined by its position in the kiln -the closer the pot is to the source of heat, the darker it is.

Medium Cylindrical Terracotta Storage Jars

(as in the photo on the left - the colour varies from dark brown to almost black) each jar is 22cm tall and 20cm in diameter. 3.1kg

They will store seven or eight 357gm Puer Cakes.
Traditional Dai Pottery in Xishuangbanna

Handmade pottery from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan.

click on the image above, or here, for a series of photographs of the manufacturing process

Click here to go to Zhi Zheng Tea Shop Gallery

Storing Raw Puer Tea

The storage of Raw Puer tea is a critical aspect of the ageing process. If done properly, a good tea will improve with age and a poor tea may become more palatebale.

Puer tea should be stored away from stong smells which it will absorb. It should be stored where there is a flow of air and with a relatively high humidity (60-80%). Higher humidity helps the ageing process, but if too wet there is a risk of mould. Tea should be kept away from direct sunlight, but it is acceptable to air it which can help remove odours.

Puer should be stored at a moderate temperature; too high will risk the tea maturing poorly but too low a temperature will slow down the ageing process.  A temperature between the upper 20's and mid-30's is ideal. We recommend storing Puer tea in earthenware jars as it helps stabilise temperature and humidity fluctuations.

Read more here on the details of aged Puer tea and the ageing process

Large Cylindrical Terracotta Storage Jars

(on the left)  30cm tall, 23cm in diameter. 4kg.

These jars are made to store 357gm Puer Cakes. Depending on how tightly the cakes are pressed, they will store 10 to 12 cakes. Fired in a traditional woodl fueled kiln.