Laosen Answers Tea Questions (1): Beginners Buying Forest Tea Should First Ask These Five Questions

Learn to Ask First, Then Learn to Buy

Tea friends often message me: "Laosen, I'm planning to buy tea, but I'm afraid of being fooled. What should I ask?"

Good question. When buying tea, asking is more important than tasting—the questions you ask directly determine whether the seller treats you as a "connoisseur" or a "cash cow." Today, I'll give you the five questions beginners should ask most. They work whether you're in a tea market or browsing an online store.

Question 1: "Which mountain is this from? Which specific village?"

Why ask: Origin is the first ID of forest tea. If they only say "deep mountains in Yunnan," they're probably not confident.

How to judge the answer: If they can name the mountain (Jingmai, Bulang, Manzhuan...) or even the village, that's a plus; if they can also talk about the plot and altitude, they're basically reliable. The vaguer the answer, the more cautious you should be.

Question 2: "Is this tree wild, semi-wild, or ancient? What's the approximate tree age?"

Why ask: Wild, semi-wild, and ancient are three different backgrounds (see encyclopedia), and prices differ several times. This question filters out half the sales talk.

How to judge the answer: If they can distinguish the three, they truly understand; if they vaguely say "it's an old tree anyway," be careful they might sell terrace tea as ancient tree tea.

Question 3: "Is this spring tea or autumn tea? Which month was it picked?"

Why ask: The picking season affects flavor and price (spring tea is delicate, autumn tea is fragrant). This question reveals whether the seller is familiar with their own goods.

How to judge the answer: If they can clearly say "first spring" or "valley flower" and explain the differences, that's a plus. If they know nothing and just shout "good tea," the quality is probably average.

Question 4: "How long has it been pressed into cakes? Where was it stored?"

Why ask: Newly pressed tea and tea stored for several years have different tastes and prices; the storage environment determines whether the tea has gone bad.

How to judge the answer: If they can state the pressing year and storage region (dry storage/wet storage), they're highly credible; if they avoid the storage topic, the tea might have a story.

Question 5: "Can I have a taste first?"

Why ask: Tea is tasted, not heard. Only those with confidence let you taste; if they don't, just walk away.

How to judge the answer: If they brew it for you on the spot and explain while brewing, they're a good seller; if they say "we're out of samples," it's fine to skip this deal.

After asking these five questions, even if you don't know any tea talk, the seller will know you're not easy to fool. Remember: The more specific your questions, the lower your chance of being ripped off. Next time you buy tea, don't rush to pay—ask first. Five questions can save you more than just the cost of one cake of tea.