Tea can be divided into Spring Tea, summer tea, and Autumn Tea according to the season. As the saying goes: spring tea is bitter, summer tea is astringent, for the best taste, drink autumn tea after the White Dew. Ancient people believed that autumn tea is the best, but in fact, the flavor and color of autumn tea fall between spring and summer teas. However, the aroma of autumn tea is very strong, especially represented by Tieguanyin.

Why is the aroma of autumn tea so intense?

The reason is due to less rainfall and drier climate in autumn, which reduces moisture in the soil and air. This allows the tea leaves to maintain their aroma to the fullest during growth, picking, and production. In dry and cold conditions, not only is the inner quality of the tea preserved, but the moisture content also decreases, making the aroma more prominent.

Why is Tieguanyin the representative of autumn tea?

Tieguanyin, known for its “spring water and autumn fragrance,” can be considered the representative of autumn tea. Spring Tieguanyin emphasizes the taste of the tea soup, while autumn Tieguanyin focuses on the aroma. In terms of quality, autumn Tieguanyin is the best of the year.

The weather for picking Tieguanyin in autumn is ideal, and with winter approaching, the processed Tieguanyin can be stored without spoiling in suitable temperatures. Moreover, Tieguanyin harvested after Cold Dew tastes even more fragrant and smoother.

Tieguanyin autumn tea usually hits the market in September and October. The tea available in September is early autumn tea, and it becomes widely available from October onwards.

How to tell if Tieguanyin is autumn tea?

Here are some characteristics that can help you identify authentic autumn Tieguanyin:

Characteristic one: crisp sound when thrown in a cup

Autumn tea is characterized by tightly bound leaves that produce a crisp sound when thrown into a lidded bowl. To test this, take a small amount of dry tea and toss it into a lidded bowl; if it produces a clear and crisp sound, it is likely autumn tea. If the sound is dull, it may be summer tea. Genuine autumn Tieguanyin has a tight, thick, solid, and heavy appearance, resulting in a louder sound when tossed, whereas summer tea is looser and lighter, producing a duller sound.

Characteristic two: fresh green with a glossy appearance

Fresh green with a glossy appearance is another characteristic of autumn tea. The color and glossiness of the dry tea can be an intuitive way to distinguish between different seasons. Genuine autumn Tieguanyin should have a fresh green color, making it easy to identify. Under light, if the dry tea appears green with a high gloss, it is likely genuine autumn tea. If the color is dark and lacks luster, it is likely summer tea.

However, if the tea has the color of spring tea, a dark oily color (resembling the color of persimmon coated with frost), then it is not only genuine autumn tea but also of superior quality.

Characteristic three: fresh fruity fragrance

A fresh fruity fragrance is characteristic of genuine autumn tea. After brewing, the most distinctive feature of the aroma of Tieguanyin autumn tea is the fresh fruity floral scent, often referred to as the autumn fragrance. Based on this characteristic, if the tea lacks this aroma, it is unlikely to be autumn tea. Visually, the biggest difference in aroma between autumn tea and other seasonal teas is the easiest method for most people to identify. Summer tea typically has an aroma resembling a slightly fishy scent.

Characteristic four: soft and concave leaf base

A soft and concave leaf base is characteristic of genuine autumn tea. After brewing several times, take out two or three tea leaves, spread them out, and examine them. If the leaf base is soft and concave, it is likely genuine autumn Tieguanyin. If the leaf base is hard and rough, it is not likely genuine autumn Tieguanyin.