Last time, we discussed the types of green Tea. Today, let's talk about how to pick high-quality tea. After all, finding a great Green Tea is the goal. Here are four steps that will help you choose your ideal tea and quickly go from novice to expert.
Step 1: Examine the Appearance
Check if the tea leaves are intact and not broken. Observe if the color of the dry tea is bright, lustrous, and glossy. Severely broken dry tea can affect the taste of the tea Infusion. Brightness, luster, and glossiness indicate the quality and freshness of the tea, as green tea is best enjoyed for its aroma, tenderness, and freshness. Generally, green tea harvested before the Qingming Festival is considered top-quality.
Step 2: Smell the Aroma
The aroma of tea includes both the dry tea and the infused tea. When shopping, focus on assessing the purity, type, intensity, and persistence of the aroma after brewing. In daily purchases, pouring a small amount of boiling water over the dry tea to release its aroma and then smelling it can be very effective.
Step 3: Evaluate the Liquor Color and Taste
Evaluate the color, brightness, and clarity of the tea liquor after brewing. A clear and bright liquor is generally preferred. For example, high-quality green teas should have a tender green, yellowish-green, or green liquor. The Enshi Yulü has a tender green liquor. Brightness in the liquor often corresponds with brightness in the leaf base. Some delicate teas with many fine hairs, such as Maojian, may have a slightly cloudy appearance due to the presence of these hairs, known as “fuzziness,” which is also a sign of good quality.
Step 4: Examine the Leaf Base
The color and softness of the leaf base can reflect the age of the fresh leaves. The brightness or dullness of the leaf base often corresponds with the clarity or murkiness of the liquor. Soft leaf bases indicate that the fresh leaves used were relatively tender, while coarser leaves result in harder leaf bases. To determine the softness, thickness, and age of the leaf base, direct observation can be complemented by pressing with fingers or biting with teeth.
The above tips can help you better identify and select teas in your daily life. Use these techniques to find your perfect cup of tea.
Related Reading
Tea Trivia (Part 1): Types of Green Tea