The best place to buy good-quality Liu Bao is a specialist tea retailer that provides clear information about producer, production style, age, storage, and sourcing, and ideally offers samples before you commit to larger quantities.
A beginner should usually buy a clean, moderately fermented, reasonably priced Liu Bao with clear production information and a sample-size option, rather than immediately spending heavily on very old, heavily stored, or highly specialized vintage tea.
Liu Bao does not automatically get better with age; instead, good storage and time can transform it into a deeper, smoother, more complex tea, but whether an older Liu Bao is actually “better” depends on the original tea, storage history, and your personal preference.
Liu Bao tea should be stored in a clean, odor-free, dark, temperature-stable environment with moderate humidity and enough protection from excessive moisture, rather than simply being kept as wet as possible or sealed completely airtight.
A good starting point is 5–7 grams of Liu Bao per 100–120 ml for gongfu brewing and roughly 3–5 grams per liter for large-pot or boiling methods, but the ideal amount depends heavily on fermentation level, leaf size, compression, and desired strength.
Liu Bao is exceptionally well suited to thermos brewing because its leaves generally tolerate prolonged contact with hot water, and the method can produce a smooth, convenient tea without requiring gongfu equipment.
