We often hear fellow Tea enthusiasts say, “Concentration is not thickness, and lightness is not thinness,” which can seem contradictory and confusing at first. Today, let's delve into how to understand this phrase in the context of Wuyi Rock Tea!

“Concentration is not Thickness”

In simple terms, “concentration” refers to the intensity of the tea broth's flavor, a perception of whether the taste is strong or light; “thickness” refers to a sense of fullness and substance in the tea broth, with a feeling of substance when sipped.

The concentration of a tea is generally determined by the following:

① Excessive tea leaf quantity / small Teapot. Typically, Wuyi Rock Tea comes in packages of 8-8.5 grams, and Teapots are chosen to be 110-120 ml in size. If too much tea is used with a small teapot, the resulting tea will naturally be more concentrated.

② Longer Steeping times will make the tea broth more concentrated.

③ Higher roasting temperatures result in a more concentrated tea broth.

If a tea isn't concentrated enough, we can increase the amount of tea used or the steeping time to enhance it. However, these methods only add to the existing flavor profile but cannot increase the “thickness” of rock tea. Let's now explore the concept of “thickness.”

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“Thickness” is determined by three key conditions:

① The better the planting conditions in the tea field, the more pronounced the thickness of the tea broth will be.

② Careful cultivation and organic ecological management ensure the tea broth's rich and smooth texture. Overuse of chemical fertilizers directly affects both the richness and the number of infusions possible.

③ Precision in processing, for example, during the moisture removal process, the water content shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely, the tea shouldn't be overprocessed, and the roasting shouldn't be rushed.

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“Lightness is not Thinness”

In “lightness is not thinness,” “lightness” means the tea broth lacks intensity and tastes mild, which can be resolved by making the tea broth more concentrated. However, “thinness” refers to a broth that is weak and lacking depth, a distinction that many new tea enthusiasts find difficult to grasp.

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Factors affecting the “lightness” of the tea broth:

① Insufficient tea leaf quantity

② Too short a steeping time

③ Lighter roasting of this particular tea

④ Insufficient water temperature for brewing—ensure boiling water is used every time when brewing Wuyi Rock Tea.

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A “thin” tea broth indicates the following:

① A weak and tasteless broth ② Low aroma persistence ③ Poor durability / the first two infusions are decent, but there is a significant drop-off afterward

“Light and thin” refers to inherently poor quality tea leaves that cannot be improved through subsequent brewing. On the other hand, “light but not thin” means that while the tea broth is mild, it has a distinct character, a light taste with a rich, layered flavor, a long-lasting aftertaste, and high durability through multiple infusions.

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