First and foremost, quality should be the deciding factor for both Puer drinkers and collectors. While it is true that good quality generally comes with a higher price tag, price is not necessarily a stand-in for quality.

Tea enthusiasts and collectors often have their own targeted price ranges; products with a price tag outside of these ranges may not be considered. And yet, if the decision is made on price and price alone, we may overlook some really good teas. Dotting nooks and crannies of the tea-growing mountains are villages where a great variety of teas are produced and sold each year. For popular tea villages where raw materials are scarce, demands exceed supplies and the price of finished teas stays high. Besides, most tea trees of these old tea

villages grow in the original ecological environment that is free from pollution. Such teas are characterised by rich and flavourful taste profiles that are unique -- while the following is huge, output is unfortunately limited. They are considered “premium quality teas at high price” accepted by consumers.

Quality teas at an affordable price” originating from tea villages on the mountains have long been well-received by the market, in terms of both flavour and mouthfeel. Thanks to standardized production -- from leaf harvesting to compressing into finished products -- and steady output, there is relatively little cost fluctuation and the price-performance ratio is fair. They are worthy choices for both tea drinkers and collectors, seasoned and new ones alike.

Price is not necessarily the most important condition when it comes to purchasing Puer tea; instead, quality should take priority. It pays to look into seasonality, aroma, mouthfeel and the strips of tea leaves (fine or stout, whole or broken, etc). After all, tea is not acquired for display. It is bought for immediate enjoyment or kept for future consumption.