Currently, some tea on the market smells very fragrant, but lacks tea flavor when brewed. Many people suspect that this is caused by unscrupulous businesses adding flavor essence to the tea leaves. So, is flavor essence actually added to tea? Xinxin Tea Art believes we must start by discussing the aroma of tea.

The aroma of tea generally depends on three aspects: the tea plant variety, processing, and storage. Taking Dancong tea as an example, different varieties from different regions have common fragrance types such as Gardenia, Magnolia, Honey Orchid, Zhi Lan, Almond, Cinnamon, and various other floral aromas. Huangjingui, which is similar to Tieguanyin, is a typical example of high aroma but light taste. During the later processing stages, depending on the control of de-enzyming and roasting, some teas may have a higher aroma but a lighter taste, or a stronger tea flavor but lower aroma. This depends on the tea maker's intention and the skill level of the master tea maker. Finally, if tea is not stored properly during preservation, it is prone to absorbing odors and mold, which greatly affects the tea's aroma. Therefore, the aroma of new tea is generally higher than that of aged tea.

Furthermore, if the brewing method is incorrect or poor quality water is used, it can also significantly impact the tea's aroma and taste.

So, is there tea on the market with added flavor essence? The answer is definitely yes. This type of tea is generally low-priced, often made from aged tea or leftover tea that has been refurbished by adding flavor essence and pigments, or lower quality tea that has been enhanced with essence to boost its aroma. No one would use such a detrimental element to ruin the inherent aroma and taste of truly good tea. Therefore, the best way to avoid drinking tea with added essence is to purchase from major merchants or brand stores. Additionally, when eating at restaurants, try to drink less of the tea provided before the meal and opt for plain water instead.

If you have already bought tea leaves and want to determine whether essence has been added, there are methods. Xinxin Tea Art uses Tieguanyin as an example to explain.

First, due to Tieguanyin's unique processing technique, the fragrance of the dry leaves is not very strong. If you hold a handful of Tieguanyin close to your nose and the aroma is subtle and natural, it generally indicates no additives. Conversely, if the dry tea's fragrance is strong, pungent, and lingers in your nose for a long time, the likelihood of added essence is high.

Second, you can rub the tea leaves with your hands. If some powder or color adheres to your palms, it indicates that some additives have been added.

Third, if after brewing with 80°C water, the tea liquor becomes turbid, or the aroma is very high, it most likely has added essence. This is because Tieguanyin must be brewed with water above 95°C for its aroma and flavor to fully emerge, whereas most flavor essences dissolve and release their aroma rapidly at 80°C water temperature.

Fourth, after brewing, if the tea aroma decreases very quickly with each infusion, lacks variation, or even disappears by the third brew, it might also indicate added essence.

Fifth, after drinking the tea, do not wash the cup immediately. Leave it overnight, and the next morning you will find a layer of thick tea stain in the cup. If the color of the tea stain is light yellow, dark yellow, orange-yellow, or other yellow-orange hues, it usually indicates that this tea does not contain any additives. Conversely, if the tea stain appears light green, dark green,墨绿 (dark green), or other colors, it suggests that the tea might contain additives.