Production date is not always the harvest year
It is a common practice to Ou-dui Pu-erh tea leaves, store the fermented leaves in the loose state for 3-5 years before compressing into cake or Tuo Cha. The main reason for this is that the air space in loose teas facilitates the evaporation of the Ou-dui odour, which is considered to be a major negative factor for a ripened Pu-erh tea.
Age factor is the main consideration when purchasing Pu-erh tea today. Remember, the date on the back of the package (production date) is not always the harvest year.
