Huangshan Maofeng, as one of China's top ten famous teas, has many brands on the market, with various grades. Drinking tea, drinking good tea, loving tea but also understanding tea—so learning to evaluate tea is very important! Today, let’s talk about how to distinguish the quality of Huangshan Maofeng.
Huangshan Maofeng tea has a slightly curled shape, resembling a sparrow's tongue, green with a hint of yellow, with visible silver hairs and golden fish leaves (commonly known as 'golden flakes'). When brewed in a cup, it forms a misty top, with a clear, slightly yellow liquor, vibrant yellow-green leaves, a mellow and sweet taste, and an orchid-like aroma with a lasting aftertaste. The dry tea leaves should show the bud tips, and those with more bud hairs are of higher quality, while those with hidden bud tips and fewer bud hairs are of poorer quality.
The quality of tea can first be distinguished by its aroma. Take a small pinch of tea leaves and bring it close to your nose. If the aroma is dull or has a rough, aged smell, it must be of low quality. On the other hand, high-quality green tea not only has tender green leaves with visible white hairs but also gives off a fresh and refreshing scent, similar to orchid or chestnut aromas; good black tea has a sweet or caramel-like aroma; premium oolong tea has a rich ripe peach fragrance. In terms of color, good green tea should be "fresh and glossy"; good black tea should be "dark and shiny"; and good oolong tea should be "greenish-brown and lustrous."
Wet evaluation involves brewing the tea for review. Brewing is commonly known as making tea. Generally, take 3-5 grams of tea leaves, place them in a white porcelain cup, and pour in about 200 ml of boiling water at the right temperature. After brewing, first smell the aroma, then observe the liquor color, taste the flavor, and finally evaluate the brewed leaves.
(1) Smell the aroma
After brewing the tea in the cup, immediately pour out the liquor, bring the cup with the leaves close to your nose, and inhale the aroma. If the tea fragrance is pure, refreshing, and uplifting, it can be considered high-quality tea.
(2) Observe the liquor color
The liquor color should be observed promptly. Generally, 3-5 minutes after brewing, pour the tea liquor into another bowl and observe it before or after smelling the aroma. For premium tea, the liquor color should be light green or yellow-green, clear and bright, not turbid.
(3) Taste the flavor
Flavor is distinguished by the taste buds. Generally, high-quality green tea has a rich, mellow, and refreshing taste; if it is flat and astringent, it is likely coarse, aged green tea.
(4) Evaluate the brewed leaves
Assess the brewed leaves after pouring out the liquor, checking for tenderness, integrity, color, uniformity, and texture to determine quality. Also, note if there are any other impurities.