A good cup of tea reflects the meticulous care taken in every step, from planting tea plants, harvesting tea leaves, to brewing tea... Each step is handled with the utmost delicacy. So what are the standards for good tea? Just as the world of tea is multifaceted, everyone has their own preferences and depths of exploration. What makes a cup of tea good is defined differently by each person. However, generally speaking, good tea should include the following points:

Clear and Bright Tea Liquor

This is the most intuitive standard for judging whether tea is good. Regardless of whether the tea liquor is red, green, black, white, or yellow, the key is that it must be "clear and bright." Besides being visually pleasing, a clear and bright liquor indicates:

1. The tea has been processed with excellent craftsmanship, with no broken pieces.

2. The storage conditions are good, with no dust or mold.

3. The tea contains abundant internal substances that have been well-released.

4. The brewing method is scientific. Sometimes, even good tea can appear cloudy due to brewing factors, such as water temperature being too high or using a high pour for teas with abundant downy hairs.

Bitterness and Astringency Dissipate from the Tongue, Rather than Constrict

Bitterness and astringency are inherent to tea; the key is whether they dissipate quickly. If the bitter and astringent taste lingers in the mouth, often described as "sticking to the tongue," it should not be considered good tea. Some people might actually enjoy this, but that can only be considered their personal subjective standard.

No Off-flavors, Strange Tastes, or Watery Taste

1. Off-flavors refer to tastes that are not inherent to the tea itself, usually caused by the tea absorbing other odors during production or storage, such as perfume, cosmetics, smoke, or other miscellaneous smells. Tea is highly absorbent, so careful attention must be paid during production and storage. Once an off-flavor is absorbed, it is almost impossible to remove, ruining even the best tea.

2. Strange tastes refer to unpleasant flavors inherent to the tea, such as a moldy taste. There are also indescribable flavors that make people feel uncomfortable. Some might claim this is the tea's unique character, but don't be fooled. Strange tastes often indicate the tea has a problem, potentially containing harmful substances like aflatoxins, which are detrimental to health when consumed.

3. Watery taste refers to a separation between the tea flavor and the water, often accompanied by a faint, insipid taste. Watery taste usually appears when the tea liquor becomes weak. Good tea should not exhibit a separation of tea flavor and water; it should remain mellow even when light, without being insipid. For example, good Longjing tea, even when brewed to the color of plain water, still has a sweet and pleasant taste.

Vibrant Infused Leaves

Regardless of the six major tea categories, the infused leaves of good tea share a common characteristic: they appear vibrant and alive. Vibrant infused leaves indicate:

1. The raw material of the tea is good. The infused leaves are a reflection of the original fresh leaves.

2. The processing craftsmanship is good, and the tea has not been over-processed or "killed."

3. The brewing method is appropriate, allowing the leaves to fully open without being over-steeped or scalded.

Good Tea Must Be Free from Pesticide Residues and Other Harmful Substances

This is the bottom line for good tea. Drinking tea should not be solely for sensory pleasure while ignoring its health benefits. Teas with excessive pesticide residues, heavy metals, or other harmful substances must be firmly rejected.

Good Tea Brings Joy

Don't dismiss this as a purely subjective standard. Good tea brings joy because certain aromatic compounds and components in the tea can stimulate the release of dopamine, thereby uplifting one's mood and clearing the mind. In contrast, poor-quality tea can leave one feeling more depressed. The same applies to red wine.

So, if you are unsure about the other standards, use this as your sole criterion. After all, the reason tea is enjoyed by almost every country and culture in the world is not due to education or promotion, but because of its essence: drinking tea makes people feel good.

Inexpensive tea is not necessarily bad, and expensive tea is not always flawless. The price of tea depends on many factors. Blindly chasing high-priced teas can often lead you astray in the vast world of tea. ... By improving your tea-buying skills, you will soon develop your own understanding of the tea way and form your own excellent judgment on what makes a good cup of tea.

For those who drink tea, all standards pale in comparison to whether it tastes good. A cup of tea, a good cup of tea, what matters most is the flavor.