When new Tea hits the market, do you eagerly rush to savor a few sips? Do you know what aspects to pay attention to when tasting new tea?

1. Light and Gentle on the Palate

Upon the first sip of tea, does it feel light and sweet or is it heavily bitter? Or perhaps it's thick with astringency? The first impression of the tea in your mouth—can you accept it? It's true that tea leaves should have some bitterness and astringency, right? However, if there isn't even a hint of gentleness, and you don't feel any fondness for the tea in your mouth, then such a tea likely won't be one you would consider further.

2. Bitterness and Astringency on the Tongue

No matter how high-quality the new tea is, no matter how well-made or where it comes from, it's almost impossible for new tea not to have some degree of bitterness and astringency. When you taste the tea, is the initial sensation more bitter or more astringent? Bitterness is a singular sensation felt on the tongue, while astringency manifests as a puckering sensation at the back of the tongue, the sides, or both. After the initial bitterness and astringency, does the tongue experience a returning sweetness over time, like a subtle sweetness when breathing or swallowing saliva, similar to the lingering sweetness after taking licorice tablets and drinking water? Recall whether you've experienced this sensation when Drinking Tea. How quickly does this sweetness come, and how long does it last?

3. Richness of the Tea's Aroma

The aroma of tea can vary widely. If we were to study the causes behind these variations, it would be a vast undertaking, so let's focus on the aromas of new tea. Does new tea often carry a grassy scent or a faint watery quality? This is normal. However, during tasting, besides the grassy notes, are there hints of delicate floral fragrance, the fresh scent of trees in a forest, or a subtle fruity sweetness, like standing near a fruit stand? Sometimes, these aromas aren't immediately apparent when smelling the tea, but they emerge within the tea soup after it's swallowed, appearing on the palate. If present, continue drinking to see if the aromas persist with additional infusions.

4. Complexity of the Tea Soup

The term “complexity” might seem elusive. When drinking new tea, many enthusiasts may not notice how the flavor changes across different parts of the tongue. Upon the first sip, the tip of the tongue experiences one flavor, the middle of the tongue another, and the root yet another. With each infusion, the texture of the tea also changes. If the taste remains consistent from the tip of the tongue all the way down to the throat, the new tea likely won't offer much in terms of depth. For example, upon the first sip, there's a light bitterness at the tip of the tongue; after a moment, a slight bitterness develops on the middle of the tongue; after swallowing, there's a sweet aftertaste at the root of the tongue, and a fragrant breath emerges from the throat. Reflect on whether the new tea you're drinking offers this kind of experience.

5. Smoothness in Swallowing the Tea

Don't assume that only aged teas have smooth and silky mouthfeel. In fact, new teas can exhibit their own unique smoothness. When drinking new tea, if the tea soup feels like it instantly moisturizes your tongue, enveloping it in a smooth and creamy texture, akin to drinking honey water mixed with pure water—where the water provides smoothness and the honey adds creaminess—it's a sign of quality. Often, when I taste new teas, the tea soup seems to skip over the tip of the tongue and slide directly to the back, flowing smoothly into the throat without any roughness, sticking, or scraping sensations. Some teas, however, do not exhibit this characteristic. It's a subtle but remarkable detail that you may not have noticed before, but it's worth paying attention to.