Do you know the key elements to consider when buying tea? According to experts, during the purchasing process, you should “squeeze, observe, smell, and taste” to determine the quality of the tea. Let's take Pu'er tea as an example and explore these tips together!
The “squeeze” test is used to determine if the tea leaves are dry. Gently grip the tea leaves with your hand; if you feel a slight prickliness and the leaves crumble easily when lightly pinched, this indicates good dryness. If the leaves do not break even when firmly squeezed, they have become damp and soft, which affects their quality.
The “observe” step involves examining the uniformity and appearance of the tea leaves. Leaves that are uniformly shaped and colored are generally better. Teas with high proportions of stems, corners, dust, and impurities will affect the quality of the tea Infusion.
The aroma of tea is one of the main conditions determining its quality, which can be assessed through “smelling.” Different teas have distinct aromas due to their processing methods and levels of Fermentation. Green teas are known for their fresh fragrance, while Oolong teas have a unique ripe fruit aroma. Black teas carry a caramel-like scent, and Flower-scented teas should have a strong blend of floral and tea aromas. The best tea infusions have pure and rich aromas. Any tea with rancid, burnt, grassy, stale, smoky, stuffy, or other off odors is of inferior quality.
Tasting the tea is another crucial way to evaluate its quality. Different teas offer various flavor profiles—some are fragrant and mellow, while others are noted for their sweet and smooth aftertaste. In general, good tea has minimal bitterness and astringency, a sweet and smooth flavor, and a lingering aroma in the mouth or throat. Teas with heavy bitterness, staleness, or smokiness are not considered top-quality.