What is the taste of good tea: Good tea contains rich nutrients, and its taste meets the standards of richness, smoothness, sweetness, and moisture. After drinking good tea, there is a slight stimulation in the mouth that lingers comfortably and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. After the slight bitterness, good tea presents a sweet, cool, and comfortable aftertaste. When good tea enters the mouth, it can be full-bodied or fresh and refreshing, with bitterness that dissipates and an aroma that is rich and lasts.
The quality characteristics of good tea:
1. Good tea should be clean
This point runs through all the steps before the tea enters our mouths, such as ecological planting in the tea garden, no pollution, and no litter being brought in. However, what we can taste often relates to issues with processing techniques and storage. A good Cup of tea should not have any odd or mixed flavors; that is, apart from the natural aroma and taste of the tea itself, there should be no other flavors mixed in. For example, if we taste some sour and rotten flavors in the tea's aroma, which are very unpleasant, it may indicate flaws in the processing technique or that the tea has been dampened during storage. If there is a noticeable smell of other foods, we should check whether the tea's packaging is intact and whether we have stored the tea together with other foods.
2. Good tea should be sweet
The history of tea is a history of human pursuit of delicious flavors. We have learned how to make tea for thousands of years, constantly highlighting the sweetness, after all, sweetness brings joy. A unique aspect of tea is that the ratio of bitterness to sweetness must be just right, so that we can taste the sweetness, have body and thickness, and experience the wonderful sensation of saliva production and aftertaste under the slight stimulation of bitterness.
3. Good tea should be refreshing
The refreshing quality comes from the fresh taste, which is relatively difficult to perceive, and many people who start Drinking Tea do not know how to understand the freshness and refreshment of tea. Actually, freshness and refreshment can be perceived from descriptions of other foods. For example, chicken soup and pork bone soup both have a very fresh flavor, which originates from the same source as the freshness in tea: high levels of amino acids. Like Anji White Tea, which has nearly twice the amino acid content of ordinary tea, it is very fresh and is known as “the chicken soup of teas.”
When eating fruit, especially melons, if it is sweet and watery, we say it is crisp and refreshing. The refreshment of tea is the feeling of moisture and comfort in the mouth. Good tea not only tastes good but also feels good in the mouth and throat. If the throat feels tight, even if the tea is delicious, we will feel uncomfortable. Smooth and moist, you can't help smacking your lips when drinking it, this is the refreshment of good tea.
4. Good tea should have a prominent aroma
Tea is a plant that naturally carries its own aroma, and when people Drink tea, the main thing they pursue is the scent, which is integrated with the taste. Often, before the tea enters the mouth, the aroma is already sensed, and a clear, pure, and lasting fragrance is a basic requirement for good tea. One significant improvement in tea-making techniques is to bring out the aroma to its fullest. The aroma of tea is usually floral or fruity, with distinctive scents depending on the variety. If the aroma merges with the tea broth, leaving a lingering scent on the lips and teeth after drinking, it indicates that the tea is of very good quality.
5. Good tea should be enduring and withstand multiple infusions
As long as the aroma and taste are normal, it can be considered a good cup of tea. However, tea lovers are also somewhat “greedy,” hoping to enjoy the experience for longer. High-quality tea usually does not lose its aroma and taste quickly. Even if steeped repeatedly in a Teapot, it should maintain a noticeable aroma for at least 5 to 7 infusions.
How to describe the taste of good tea
To describe the taste of good tea, these words can be used: sweet and moist, full-bodied, full, thick and smooth, saliva-inducing, returning sweetness, obvious throat resonance, smooth, fresh and refreshing, rock character, high mountain character, fresh and sweet, dissipation, rich, strong and mellow, pure, harmonious, mild, strong, fresh and mellow, melts in the mouth, and long-lasting flavor.
Tea Quality: Refers to the richness of the taste. It is typically expressed using “thick, thin, heavy, light.”
Returning Sweetness: Refers to the sweetness that develops after the bitterness gradually dissipates in the mouth.
Astringency: The tightness felt on the tongue and around the mouth after tasting tea, often indicative of bitterness.
Throat Resonance: Refers to the sensation the tea broth gives to the throat, such as “sweet, moist, throat lock.”
Layered Feel: “Layers” refer to overlapping sensations, while “sequence” refers to their order. It describes the changing aromas and tastes in the mouth when drinking tea.