There are primarily five steps to determine if a Tea is good: the clarity of the infusion, whether any bitterness or astringency dissipates quickly, the absence of off-flavors and wateriness in the infusion, the vitality of the infused leaves, and whether drinking the tea brings about a sense of pleasure; good tea has a clear and bright infusion, an aroma that is rich without any off-flavors or odd tastes, a smooth mouthfeel with any bitterness or astringency dissipating, vibrant and uniform infused leaves, and it leaves one feeling happy and refreshed after consumption.

The criteria for a good tea:

One: The infusion is clear and bright.

This is the most direct way to judge if a tea is good. Regardless of whether the infusion is red, green, black, white, or yellow, the key is that it must be “clear and bright.” A clear and bright infusion not only pleases the eye but also indicates:

1. Good tea-making techniques, proper fermentation control, and no signs of scorching.

2. Proper handling and storage during production, resulting in minimal leaf breakage.

3. Good storage conditions, free from dust and mold.

4. Rich internal composition of the tea, well-released during brewing.

However, the brewing method must be scientific; improper brewing, such as too high water temperature or over-steeping, may result in a murky infusion. It's also important to note that some teas with a lot of downy hair, like Biluochun or Baihao Yinzhen, can have the downy hair fall off during brewing, which might be mistaken for a murky infusion; pay attention to this distinction.

Two: Bitterness and astringency are present but dissipate quickly.

Bitterness and astringency are inherent flavors in tea, as the saying goes: “Without bitterness and astringency, it's not tea.” If a tea lacks these flavors, it can feel thin and monotonous. Well-processed tea will have a subtle presence of bitterness and astringency. Since tea inherently has bitter and astringent flavors, the key lies in whether they dissipate quickly.

If the bitterness and astringency linger in the mouth, creating a rough and tight sensation on the tongue, making it uncomfortable, such a tea should not be considered good.

Three: No off-flavors or wateriness.

Off-flavors refer to external flavors that do not originate from the tea itself.

There are two scenarios for off-flavors: One is due to problems in the processing, such as improper techniques leading to poor-quality flavors like grassiness, smokiness, or scorched taste. The other scenario is due to issues in storage, where the tea becomes spoiled or absorbs external odors, such as staleness, moldiness, or perfume-like scents. When storing tea, it's essential to be careful, as once off-flavors are absorbed, they're almost impossible to remove, ruining even the best tea.

Wateriness refers to the separation of tea flavor and water, resulting in a bland, fishy taste. Wateriness often appears when the tea infusion becomes weak, but good tea will not exhibit this separation. For example, even when Longjing tea is brewed until the infusion is nearly colorless, it still retains a sweet taste, being weak but not fishy.

Four: The infused leaves are vibrant.

Regardless of the type of tea, good tea's infused leaves share a common characteristic of vitality. The leaves are tender with a lustrous appearance, smooth to the touch, and have a certain thickness and elasticity when squeezed. Vibrant infused leaves indicate:

1. High-quality raw materials. The infused leaves reflect the quality of the fresh leaves.

2. Good tea-making techniques, ensuring the tea isn't overworked.

3. Proper brewing, allowing the tea to fully open up without being over-brewed or stewed.

Five: Good tea brings pleasure.

Don't think of this as a subjective standard. Good tea makes people happy because its aromatic compounds and certain components uplift mood, broaden perspective, and refresh the mind. Conversely, bad tea can make one feel increasingly depressed. Poor raw materials, substandard processing, and improper storage are all factors that, if difficult to discern, your body will tell you about—drinking it feels dull and unsatisfying.

So, if you're unsure about the above criteria, consider pleasure as the sole standard. After all, tea is loved by almost every country and nation in the world based on its essence—the joy of Drinking Tea. That's all for now on the topic of “Criteria for a good tea.” I hope you find this article insightful!