Thinking of diversifying your investments? Try Pu’er tea.
Investors always have had a keen eye for old items as prudent ones always know that there is intrinsic value in something mature and you can bet on. So if you’re one of those discerning types and are looking to park you money in a sound investment, why not try tea, particularly, Pu’er Tea?
Originating from the southern Yunnan, China, the tea is named after the province of Pu’er. Whilst most teas are best consume fresh, Pu’er tea gets better and more valuable with age, akin to how good whisky or wine ages with maturity. The longer it ferments, the richer its taste, and aroma of the tea improves as it matures, contributing to its value.
Bolstering its value too is Pu’er Tea’s health benefits. Whilst not considered to be medication, Pu’er Tea has been known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and in some cases, weight loss for those who consume it regularly. Couple this with its scarcity, Pu’er Tea can turn out to be a sound investment over time.
But just exactly how good are the returns, one may ask?
Like any investments, there are no guarantees but just to gauge its potential, consider the following:
- CNBC reported that in 2010, China Construction Bank launched a Pu’er Tea investment product—where investors can receive annualized 7-percent return in tea or cash.
- AsiaOne reported that Pu’er Tea is a rarity and some can be worth up to SGD150,000. In 2002, a tea connoisseur Mr Peh Ching Her was selling a disc of pu-er for SGD6. He says that same disc is worth $60 today, as the tea has aged. Similarly, Ms Carrie Chen, owner of Tea Bone Zen Mind, a 14-year-old tea house in Seah Street, says a 20-year-old Pu’er can be worth three times more than 10-year-old Pu’er, which is selling for about SGD$80 for a 250 gram disc.
These are but just samples of the value Pu’er can fetch.
So where does one who is interested in Pu’er Tea start?
Pu’er Tea is produced fromYunnan’s Pu’er county. Tea from this region ages with maturity and over time. The value of the tea is tied to the age of the tea as over time, it will ripen and those that has fermented over time will be ready for drinking.
To get a sample of good teas, chose from well-known brands such as Dayi, Xiaguan, Longsheng, Longrun. The better brands will use higher grade materials and employ more skilful processing.
Always taste for yourself by asking the vendor to brew the tea for you to taste. The colour, fragrance and taste should be consistent even after going through many infusions.
Look out for the colour of the tea liquid as it should be clear and dark reddish in colour. Leaves should be evenly shaped and supple looking. Also, good tea will quench thirst quickly while inferior tea will leave you wanting for more.