Green Tea

In the "world" of Pu'er tea, 8582 is like a reclusive master with unparalleled skills—his name is well-known, yet few have seen his true form. But whenever he appears, he commands attention, and those in the know can recognize him at first glance, thanks to his unique mark—the "Purple Heaven." Both 8582 and its sibling 8592 were born in 1985. Among Yunnan Seven Sons cakes, they stand out. While both hail from Menghai Tea Factory, they are exclusively custom-made for a Hong Kong-based trader—Nantian Trading Company. Because the purple "Heaven" character was stamped on their wrapping paper, a practice unprecedented at the time, these teas are commonly known as "Purple Heaven Cakes." The Purple Heaven Cakes now sell for over 100,000 RMB per cake, and various accounts related to them abound, often leaving people unsure of what to believe. Recently, our editorial team interviewed Chang Jinqiang, the former manager of the Specialized Tea Department at Yunnan Provincial Tea Import and Export Corporation, who witnessed the birth and export of 8582 and 8592 to Hong Kong. He shared stories about the legendary history of these Purple Heaven Cakes. The Beginnings and Endings of 8582/8592 Image The birth of the Purple Heaven…...

"Burning incense, preparing tea, hanging paintings, arranging flowers— these four leisurely pursuits should not burden one's home." —Wu Zimu, Dream of the Liang Dynasty Readers who have watched the TV series Dreamy Song Dynasty will surely remember the scene where the main character Zhao Pan'er prepares tea with skillful and graceful movements, a sight that is pleasing to the eye. Tea became popular in the Tang Dynasty but flourished in the Song Dynasty. The custom of drinking tea was widespread in Song society, enjoyed by everyone from nobles and literati to merchants, gentry, and common folk, all of whom found pleasure in it, leading to the emergence of various tea-related activities. The method of drinking tea in the Song Dynasty differed from today's practice of steeping tea leaves in boiling water. In the Song Dynasty, tea was made from compressed cakes, which were ground into a fine powder before being mixed with boiling water. This process, known as "crushing the tea into powder, pouring hot water over it, and using a whisk to froth it," is referred to as "pointing tea." Song Dynasty people poured their hearts, filled with mountains and rivers, into their paintings and also into their tea.…...

I was out of town on a business trip. After finishing my work, a friend contacted me and invited me for tea. However, since it was a weekday, we decided to meet in his office. This tea session made me realize a profound issue: what would the infusion of top-quality Pu'er tea taste like when brewed with hard water that had been sitting for half a month? Good Tea, Lesser Water My friend has grown up around tea and has maintained a clean lifestyle for years within the system, almost abstaining from smoking and drinking, with his greatest hobby being tea. When we arrived at his office, he opened a cabinet against the wall, which was packed with metal tea boxes, wooden tea chests, and various kinds of tea, including Pu'er cakes, Tieguanyin, and green tea, some of them quite expensive. The tea was excellent, but the brewing utensils were excessively simple. He used a standard government-issued white porcelain mug with a handle for drinking and a low-quality portable brewing cup for brewing, while boiling water in a cheap thin-steel electric kettle. With a wry smile, my friend apologized, saying, "The environment here can't compare to your meticulously arranged tea…...

Why does the tea you brew always taste different from that of a tea artist? It turns out that every step, from boiling water, selecting utensils, preparing the tea leaves to brewing, can affect the infusion. Brewing tea is not only a technical skill but also requires meticulous attention. The details make or break the result. Whether the tea tastes good or not depends on whether you have paid attention to these details and methods. Boiling Water Boil water this way for better-tasting tea In his book, "The Classic of Tea," Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty described three stages of boiling water: First Boil: When the water starts bubbling like fish eyes with a gentle sound; Second Boil: When bubbles rise like a spring of pearls; Third Boil: When the water surges and waves like a rushing tide. For modern people, boil water quickly over high heat instead of slowly over low heat. When the water continuously bubbles at the second or just into the third boil, its activity is best. If boiled too long, the oxygen content decreases, reducing its activity, which we often refer to as "over-boiled" water. This negatively impacts the infusion. If using tap water,…...

I. Poor Quality Manifestations The main manifestations of poor quality in albino tea include overgrowth of new shoots, distortion of buds and leaves, hindered recovery to green, and physiological disorders. 1. Overgrowth of New Shoots Overgrowth is the mildest manifestation of poor quality. When new shoots develop to have two or three leaves, they no longer produce new leaves but instead show a significant increase in stem length. The length of a one-bud-two-or-three-leaves shoot can reach over 10 cm, sometimes even exceeding 15 cm. These buds and leaves are well-albino, but due to their excessive length, they are unsuitable for flat or strip-shaped tea processing. However, there is still room for processing into coiled or curled teas. This phenomenon is more likely to occur in leaf-white type albino teas. Morphology of Overgrown Albino Shoots 2. Distortion of Buds and Leaves Distortion primarily occurs in tea buds that sprout later during lower temperatures. It is characterized by hooked bud shapes, hardened green stems, long and slender leaves resembling willow leaves, twisted leaf surfaces with asymmetric veins, irregular leaf margins, and snow-white coloration that is hard and thin. These buds and leaves cannot be processed into normal fresh leaf shapes, and the…...

In recent years, the area of tea gardens has grown annually in response to the increasing demand in the tea market. However, the expansion of tea garden areas has brought about a series of issues including soil erosion, acidification, and reduced fertility, which are detrimental to tea yield and quality. This article, based on the current distribution of tea gardens in our country, summarizes the more common problems in the tea garden soil environment. It also analyzes the remediation effects and mechanisms of applying biochar, microbial fertilizers, and compound conditioners, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future soil improvement work in tea gardens and the promotion of soil conditioners. This article, based on the current distribution of tea gardens in our country, summarizes the more common problems in the tea garden soil environment. It also analyzes the remediation effects and mechanisms of applying biochar, microbial fertilizers, and compound conditioners, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future soil improvement work in tea gardens and the promotion of soil conditioners. I. The Area and Distribution Characteristics of Tea Gardens in Our Country As of 2022, the total area of tea gardens in our country has reached 3.3303 million hectares, ranking…...

1. Minbei Narcissus The original name of Narcissus was "Zhuxian," originating from the "Zhuxian Cave" on Yanyi Mountain in Dahan Village, Xiaohu Town, Ouning County (now Dahan Village, Shuigil Township, Jianyang City). It started during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821 AD), and due to the local pronunciation where "Zhu" sounds like "Shui," it gradually became known as "Narcissus" or "Minbei Narcissus." According to "Records of Unusual Fujian Products," "In Ouning County's Liuda Lake, there is a type of tea with coarse, long leaves named Narcissus because its flavor resembles that of the Narcissus flower..." The new chronicles of Chong'an County record: "The mother tree of Narcissus is located beneath the Zhuxian Cave in Taotzigang, Dahan, Shuigil County (now part of Jianyang City). During the Daoguang period, a farmer surnamed Su discovered it and propagated it widely." Additionally, according to the Daoguang "Ouning County Annals," "Narcissus tea comes from Dayi Village (today Xiaohu Town), Dahan. There is a mountain called Yan Cha Shan, with the Zhuxian Cave on top. A man surnamed Xi Gan from Xiqian Factory, who worked in the tea business, occasionally went to the cave and found a tree that resembled tea but had an…...

With the drop in temperature, the growth of the above-ground parts of tea trees slows down gradually while that of the underground parts remains relatively active. Applying base fertilizer in autumn can improve the efficiency of fertilizer use by the tea trees and contribute to enhancing the quality and yield of spring tea the following year. Therefore, it is essential to apply base fertilizers scientifically to tea trees in autumn. I. Principles of Fertilization 1. Organic and chemical fertilizers should be used in combination, with organic fertilizers replacing part of the chemical fertilizers, and base fertilizers should be applied deeply; 2. Maintain a suitable nutrient ratio. Based on soil fertility conditions and tea yield, determine the nitrogen fertilizer amount and enhance the combined application of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium fertilizers, paying attention to the supplementation of sulfur, boron, and other nutrients; 3. For tea gardens with severely acidified soils (soil pH < 4), measures such as applying lime, soil conditioners, or increasing the application of mature livestock manure can be taken to gradually improve the soil; 4. Combine scientific fertilization with green cultivation techniques that increase yield and efficiency. II. Methods of Fertilization 1. Timing of base fertilizer application: It…...

Ripe tea is relatively challenging to brew. It's easy to end up with a weak flavor, thin mouthfeel, and even an unpleasant aroma. Even more frustratingly, a tea that has been stored well can produce a drying, harsh sensation in the throat when brewed. This can be quite perplexing. Brewing a great cup of Pu'er ripe tea requires just one simple trick. The first infusion is for washing the tea. The first infusion of ripe Pu'er is crucial. Pour the water slowly, directly onto the leaves without stirring them. Wait about ten to fifteen seconds (add ten seconds for aged teas). Since it's a compressed tea, this allows the tea cake to absorb water internally. Otherwise, the first few infusions will have a light color, while subsequent infusions will resemble soy sauce. Discard the first infusion. Starting from the second infusion, pour water low and directly over one spot, allowing the tea to flow down the side of the cup. Here's the key: tilt the pitcher so the tea flows along the side. This stabilizes the tea's contents and ensures a smooth thickness. Empty the pitcher completely after each infusion. For the first six to seven infusions, brew immediately and…...

Tea is one of the world's three major beverages. In addition to its fresh and fragrant taste, the rich substances it contains are also one of the reasons people enjoy drinking tea. As is well known, tea is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants with excellent antioxidant functions that can eliminate harmful free radicals, fight aging, resist radiation, and have antibacterial properties. But does drinking tea regularly really slow down the process of brain aging? Chinese scholars provide the answer. Addressing existing issues, they conducted extensive data analysis to arrive at more reliable conclusions. On November 21, 2023, a research paper titled "Tea consumption and attenuation of biological aging: A longitudinal analysis from two cohort studies" by Professor Zhao Xing's team from the School of Public Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University was published online in the prestigious international journal "The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific" (IF=7.1). The results show that regularly drinking tea can slow down the aging process, and drinking about 3 cups of tea or 6-8 grams of tea leaves per day may provide the most significant anti-aging effects. In this study, there were 13,929 participants, including 7,931 participants aged 30-79 from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) and…...

       Discerning a tea's aging potential isn't something that can be accurately determined in a short period of time. It requires not only foundational knowledge but also experience gained through tasting, discussions, and perhaps even a bit of luck. You need to find a Pu'er tea that suits your taste and use it as a benchmark for assessing the aging potential of other teas, making it easier to judge their maturation capabilities. How to Assess the Aging Potential of Pu'er Tea 1. Quality of the Tea Product The three main factors that influence the quality of Pu'er tea are: raw materials, processing techniques, and storage conditions. The inherent differences in the raw materials (in terms of their intrinsic substances) largely determine the differences in the tea's quality over time. Processing techniques and storage conditions determine the tea's ability to age well. Often, tea enthusiasts debate whether ancient tree teas or younger tree teas age better. As mentioned in previous articles, everyone has different standards for what constitutes good taste in Pu'er tea, so direct comparisons are difficult. 2. Timeframe Many people overlook the importance of the timeframe when assessing a Pu'er tea's aging potential. This often leads them…...

Can you tell the difference between spring, summer, and autumn teas? While tea can be harvested throughout the year from a technical standpoint, the quality of the final product varies greatly depending on the season. Spring tea is considered the best, followed by autumn tea, with summer tea ranking last. Spring Tea The first harvest of the year occurs during spring, typically between March and May. The moderate temperatures and ample rainfall during this season are ideal for the growth and nutrient accumulation in tea plants, resulting in high-quality tea. Spring tea is known for its fresh, sweet aroma and bright green liquor. Summer Tea: In the summer, higher temperatures accelerate the growth of tea plants, increasing their yield, but the quality is somewhat lower compared to spring. Summer tea tends to have a more bitter taste and a lighter flavor, although it still retains some fragrance and palatability. Autumn Tea: As the weather cools down in autumn, tea plants enter a dormant phase. The lower moisture content in the leaves contributes to a richer flavor and a stronger aftertaste with a heightened sweetness and aroma. Spring Tea vs. Autumn Tea Spring is the season of renewal. As temperatures rise…...