The purpose of this article is to provide information on what quality tea is in order to avoid consuming low quality tea. The best quality means best appearance, color, fragrance, taste and overall feeling. High quality tea consists of high quality leaves, hand-picked at the moment the leaves are full of energy in the spring. Better for you and better for the tea pickers (natural environment, no machines, no pollution and care for their product).
1. Appearance of
high quality teaThe appearance of dry tea leaves
Spread out a handful of tea leaves on the table to check their shape, size, and tenderness (softness). There are different standards for all shapes and sizes, depending on the variety, but as well for different kinds of tea. All high quality teas should be of approximately the same shape and size. In general, the longer, thinner, denser, the better. Tenderness is also a very important factor. The more tender, the better. Excellent tenderness means that the tea leaf is tight and the color is well-balanced. The leaves should be whole/unbroken without stems and twigs.
The appearance of wet tea leaves
After steeping, the tea leaves will absorb the water and then recover its original shape. The original shape can provide a lot of information about the tea quality. You will see that the tea leaves look completely natural like they were just picked from the trees. The good quality tea leaves when wet will not rebound (return to its original shape) after pressing by hand.
2. Color of high quality tea
The color of dry tea leaves
High quality tea has a brighter color and is well-shaped. In general, the requirement of color is different for different types of tea. For green tea, there are dark, light, jade, yellow and a greyish green. Generally the deeper the color is, the higher the quality.
High quality tea has a brighter color and is well-shaped. In general, the requirement of color is different for different types of tea. For green tea, there are dark, light, jade, yellow and a greyish green. Generally the deeper the color is, the higher the quality.
The color of wet tea leaves
New teas have bright and fresh colors. Aged tea will be a grey yellow and dark black color. In some cases like the raw Puerh teas and white tea bricks the quality can also be told by its fermenting degree. For green tea, light, clear and yellowish green is the best; for black tea, brilliant red is best; for Tieguanyin tea (an Oolong tea or Wulong tea) a bright green leaf with red trim is the best.
New teas have bright and fresh colors. Aged tea will be a grey yellow and dark black color. In some cases like the raw Puerh teas and white tea bricks the quality can also be told by its fermenting degree. For green tea, light, clear and yellowish green is the best; for black tea, brilliant red is best; for Tieguanyin tea (an Oolong tea or Wulong tea) a bright green leaf with red trim is the best.
The color of the infusion
High quality tea has a clear, bright and fresh look. The low quality tea has dull colors and looks watered down. In general, a bright color means rich taste and a lighter color means light taste.
High quality tea has a clear, bright and fresh look. The low quality tea has dull colors and looks watered down. In general, a bright color means rich taste and a lighter color means light taste.
3. Fragrance of high quality tea
The fragrance of dry tea leaves
Put a handful of the dry tea leaves near your nose and absorb the fragrance. Fresh tea and complete fired tea is surely more fragrant than low quality tea and water-full tea, in which too much water remains in the leaf, the result of unskilled processing.
Put a handful of the dry tea leaves near your nose and absorb the fragrance. Fresh tea and complete fired tea is surely more fragrant than low quality tea and water-full tea, in which too much water remains in the leaf, the result of unskilled processing.
The fragrance of the infusion
The fragrance is affected by the tea specie, origin, season and picking and processing method. Each tea has its unique fragrance. Black tea should have a sweet fragrance. Good green tea is fresh and subtle en not harsh or grassy; oolong tea has fruit and flower aromas. Normally, the long-lasting, fresh fragrance is the best. The low quality tea will have smoky, burning, sour, harsh, acid, musty and stale flavor. Once you gain some experience, you will recognize whether you're drinking a low or high quality tea after the first sip.
Caution! Some tea vendors add fragrances or additives to the tea in order to cover the low quality tea leaves used. You can always judge the quality by its appearance so when opening the package try checking the leaves first.
The fragrance is affected by the tea specie, origin, season and picking and processing method. Each tea has its unique fragrance. Black tea should have a sweet fragrance. Good green tea is fresh and subtle en not harsh or grassy; oolong tea has fruit and flower aromas. Normally, the long-lasting, fresh fragrance is the best. The low quality tea will have smoky, burning, sour, harsh, acid, musty and stale flavor. Once you gain some experience, you will recognize whether you're drinking a low or high quality tea after the first sip.
Caution! Some tea vendors add fragrances or additives to the tea in order to cover the low quality tea leaves used. You can always judge the quality by its appearance so when opening the package try checking the leaves first.
4. Taste of high quality tea
The taste of the infusion
Tea is an exclusive beverage. Therefore its value is determined by the taste. Different parts of the tongue are sensitive to different taste, the tip of your tongue senses sweet, the tongueroot senses bitterness and the middle of the tongue is sensitive to a more harsh bitter taste. The less bitter the tea the better, best would be soothing. The high quality tea may initially have a bitter taste and then it will become sweet. The low quality tea will have a bitter taste before and after.
Tea is an exclusive beverage. Therefore its value is determined by the taste. Different parts of the tongue are sensitive to different taste, the tip of your tongue senses sweet, the tongueroot senses bitterness and the middle of the tongue is sensitive to a more harsh bitter taste. The less bitter the tea the better, best would be soothing. The high quality tea may initially have a bitter taste and then it will become sweet. The low quality tea will have a bitter taste before and after.
Ordering your tea online from Tea-Adventure: Free worldwide shipping, two tea samples free of your choice with a money back guarantee, highest grades loose leaf tea, hand-picked, directly from the tea farm in China, great work conditions for the tea pickers and 100% natural with no additives.
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