Three Steps to Distinguishing Tea:

1. Distinguish Tea Color and Taste

New tea has a green, lustrous color and a strong, fresh aroma. The liquor is jade green with a clear fragrance, such as roasted chestnut or orchid notes. The taste is fresh, mellow, and refreshing, with tender, bright green leaves after brewing.

Aged tea appears dull, grayish-yellow, and lacks luster. If you breathe on aged tea, the moistened areas turn yellow and dry, emitting a cool scent. The liquor is deep yellow, mellow, and smooth but slightly less intense. The brewed leaves are yellowish and lack brightness. Well-preserved aged tea may retain its original color but will have no shine and a subdued aroma.

2. Distinguish Leaf Thickness

Spring Tea: After months of nutrient accumulation from autumn onwards, spring brings suitable temperatures and ample rainfall, ideal for tea growth. Thus, the buds and leaves are plump, vibrant green, and solid. The tea has a heavy body, a rich, refreshing taste, and a long-lasting aroma. The leaves are soft.

Summer Tea: Generally, tea harvested after the beginning of summer is considered summer tea. With long days, intense sunlight, high temperatures, and abundant rain, tea plants grow quickly. However, the growth period for buds and leaves is short, resulting in thin leaves and many purple buds. Summer tea has harder strips, visible veins, and may include bluish-green leaves.

Autumn Tea: After the beginning of autumn, temperatures cool down. Following the spring and summer harvests, tea plants sprout autumn shoots but often lack sufficient nutrients. The buds and leaves are slender and weak. With significant day-night temperature variations, growth slows, resulting in larger gaps between leaves, smaller leaf surfaces, thin and long stems, and many "opposite leaves" (two leaves growing directly opposite each other). Autumn tea is green with tight, thin strips, many veins, and a light body. The liquor is light with a mild, slightly sweet taste and a faint aroma. The leaves are soft, often single, with tender stems and copper-colored leaves.

3. Distinguish Body Weight

High-Mountain Tea (vs. Lowland Tea): Grown in beautiful natural environments often shrouded in mist and clouds, tea plants thrive under diffuse sunlight. The resulting tea has thick, sturdy strips, a heavy body, and a glossy green color. The liquor is bright green with a high, lasting aroma and a rich taste. The brewed leaves are bright and soft. Lowland tea exhibits the opposite characteristics.