Chinese tea has a wide variety of types. Due to differences in processing methods, origin, variety, and fresh leaf quality, the flavors vary greatly. Although the taste of tea is intuitively perceived by the senses, long-term practice and summary have led to a general classification of basic taste types. Based on years of practice and research by many tea production and scientific research workers, tea tastes can be broadly summarized into fourteen types.

1. Strong Type

Generally used to describe the taste of green tea. It has a clear fragrance and roasted chestnut aroma. The infused substances are abundant, giving a soup-like feeling. The taste is strong but not bitter, astringent but with good convergence, and has a long, refreshing aftertaste with a sweet sensation, similar to eating fresh olives. Generally, buds that are plump, thick leaves, and relatively tender one-bud-two-or-three-leaf grades, with rich infused substances and proper processing, fall into this type. Tea examples: Tun Green Tea, Wu Green Tea.

2. Strong and Pungent Type

Generally describes lightly fermented broken black tea, a typical taste characteristic of high-quality broken black tea. 'Strong' refers to the richness of tea infusion, which feels thick and sticky on the tongue; 'Pungent' refers to its strong stimulating sensation, with a gripping mouthfeel. This type of tea is usually made from moderately plucked fresh leaves with rich contents or large-leaf varieties, with slightly light withering, sufficient cutting, and lightly fermented broken black tea processing.

Tea examples: Assam Broken Black Tea, Kenyan Broken Black Tea.

3. Thick and Refreshing Type

Rich in infused substances upon entry, with strong stimulation and convergence, a thick taste, and a sweet and refreshing aftertaste. Generally, the raw materials are relatively tender with thick leaves, and the processing is appropriate.

Tea examples: Lingyun White Tip, Nan'an Shiting Green, Shu Green, Sui Green, Dian Hong, Wuyi Rock Tea, etc.

4. Strong and Mellow Type

High-quality Congou black tea, Maozhen, Maofeng, and some oolong tea belong to this type. It feels rich in infused substances upon entry, with slight stimulation but less than the thick and refreshing type, and higher than the mellow and thick type, with a sweet or refreshing aftertaste. Tea examples: High-quality Congou black tea, Maozhen, Maofeng, and some oolong tea.

5. Mellow and Thick Type

'Mellow' means the taste is still strong but with less stimulation, with a slightly sweet or refreshing aftertaste; 'Thick' refers to the thickness of the tea infusion. Green tea, black tea, and oolong tea with good internal quality of fresh leaves and normal processing have this taste.

Tea examples: Keemun Black Tea, Sichuan Black Tea, some Fujian Black Tea, Yongxi Huoqing, Gaoqiao Yinfeng, Guzhang Maojian, Lushan Cloud Mist, Shuixian, Sezhong, Tieguanyin, etc.

6. Mellow and Refreshing Type

The taste is neither strong nor light, neither bitter nor astringent, with a refreshing aftertaste. The fresh leaves are tender and processed promptly and properly.

Tea examples: Mengding Yellow Bud, Huoshan Yellow Bud, Moganshan Yellow Bud, and medium-to-high-grade Congou black tea.

7. Mellow and Mild Type

Not bitter or astringent, with a thick sensation, a relatively mild aftertaste, but with stimulation higher than the flat type.

Tea examples: Medium-grade Congou black tea, Xiangjian, Tianjian (including Gongjian, Shengjian), Liupu Tea.

8. Fresh and Strong Type

'Fresh' refers to the sensation of eating fresh fruit. This type has a fresh and strong taste with a refreshing aftertaste. Fresh leaves with high tenderness, thick buds, and timely and proper processing generally fall into this type.

Tea examples: Huangshan Maofeng, Wuyuan Mingmei, etc.

9. Fresh and Mellow Type

The taste is fresh and pure, with a fresh and refreshing aftertaste. Most green tea, black tea, and white tea made from tender and fresh leaves fall into this type. Tea examples: Taiping Houkui, Guzhu Zisun, high-grade Hongqing, Dabai Tea, high-grade Keemun Black Tea, Yihong, etc.

10. Fresh and Light Type

The taste is fresh, sweet, and comfortable, but relatively light. This type of tea usually has lower polyphenols, catechins, and water extracts, and slightly higher amino acid content. Tea examples: Junshan Silver Needle, Mengding Yellow Bud, etc.

11. Clean and Fresh Type

Has a clean fragrance and a fresh, refreshing taste. Famous green and black teas made from tender, finely processed leaves have this taste. Tea examples: Biluochun, Mengding Ganlu, Nanjing Yuhua Tea, Duyun Maojian, Bailin Gongfu, and various Silver Needle teas.

12. Aged and Mellow Type

Aged flavor with sweetness. The fresh leaves are relatively tender, and the processing involves a wet-piling and aged mellowing process.

Tea examples: Pu'er Tea, Liupu Tea, etc.

13. Sweet and Mellow Type

The taste is sweet and mellow, with a fresh sweetness. Mellow sweetness, sweet harmony, and sweet refreshment all fall into this type. The raw materials are tender and fresh, and the processing is meticulous. Tea examples: Anhua Songzhen, Enshi Yulu, White Tea, Small-leaf Congou Black Tea, etc.

14. Flat and Mild Type

Many teas fall into this taste type. Generally, the taste is mild, with a sweet sensation, neither bitter nor astringent. The raw materials are usually older, with more than half of the buds and leaves already aged, and the processing is normal.