Tea enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the spring tea season. As a lover of Pu'er tea, how can you discern and select your favorite teas amidst the many offerings during this season?
Characteristics of Spring Tea
Spring tea is best able to effectively balance a rich array of intrinsic substances. The primary intrinsic substances in buds include water-soluble tannins, polyphenols, and amino acids. When tasting, a harmonious abundance of these intrinsic substances results in a more fragrant, sweet, and refreshing flavor.
How to Determine if it's Spring Tea
1. Observe the Appearance: Spring tea leaves are generally tightly wrapped, plump, thick, and some have a lot of downy hair. They have a fresh and lustrous color and a strong, fresh aroma. Summer and autumn teas have loose leaves with a dull color and a mild aroma, which are significantly different from spring tea.
2. Observe the Liquor Color: During storage, some substances that contribute to the tea's color undergo slow decomposition or oxidation, causing Green Tea to lose its luster and become dull. The increase in tea-brown pigments in aged tea makes the green tea liquor yellowish-brown, losing its original fresh color. When brewing, spring tea leaves sink faster, have a stronger and longer-lasting aroma, and a richer taste; while summer and autumn teas sink slower and have a less intense aroma.
3. Taste the Aroma: During storage, various substances that make up the tea's flavor may decompose, volatilize, or become insoluble in water. Therefore, new tea has a richer and fresher taste, while aged tea tastes bland and less refreshing.
4. Examine the Leaf Base: After brewing, the leaf base of new tea appears green with a yellowish hue, looking fresh and tender, whereas the leaf base of aged tea is more yellowish without a fresh appearance.
Pu'er Spring Tea Emphasizes Flavor Experience
The leaves of spring tea are thick and contain high levels of aromatic substances and vitamins, resulting in a fresh and refreshing flavor and a strong aroma. The shape of the leaves is tight and heavy. Spring temperatures are moderate, and rainfall is abundant. In addition, after a half-year winter rest period, the tea plants produce plump and green buds with soft leaves, containing a wealth of beneficial substances. Pu'er tea has three major production areas, each with its unique flavor. Similarly, the six major tea mountains each have their distinct taste. Putting aside price and reputation, experiencing the diverse flavors and styles of Pu'er tea is also important. Therefore, for those who value taste, choosing spring tea with a noticeable aroma in the Infusion is recommended. A strong aroma and a fresh, refreshing mouthfeel are key characteristics of spring tea.
Pu'er Spring Tea Emphasizes Collection Value
Is Pu'er tea worth storing? Ultimately, it comes down to the potential for transformation during long-term storage, which is determined by the quantity and composition of intrinsic substances in the tea. Spring tea is rich in intrinsic substances, providing not only a fresh and refreshing taste but also high collection value. However, whether spring tea is worth storing ultimately depends on the specific tea product. Even among spring teas, ancient Tree spring tea and plantation spring tea have different flavors and will inevitably transform differently over time. Similarly, pure single-origin and blended ancient tree spring teas will also have different transformations. Furthermore, ancient tree spring teas from different regions, such as He Kai, Jingmai, and Bulang Mountain, will not transform in the same way. Therefore, if collectors aim to store tea for future transformation, they should make judgments based on the raw materials, market trends, and taste of specific tea products, rather than following blindly.