Gongfu Tea Purchase & Tasting Guide: From Selection to Flavor Descriptions
Short Summary
Navigating the world of gongfu tea can be overwhelming for beginners—from avoiding low-quality teas to describing subtle flavors. We’re here to simplify the process: learn how to choose premium teas with our tailored services, identify quality through practical checks, and articulate tastes like a pro using our guide to key terminology.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our tea selection service includes sample sets, transparent details (origin, 工艺，flavor notes), and 1-on-1 guidance to match your preferences.
2. 5-step quality check: Evaluate dry leaves, aroma, liquor color, taste, and wet leaves to spot high-quality gongfu tea.
3. Tasting vocabulary: Master terms like "yan yun" (rock charm) and "hou yun" (throat rhyme) to describe complex flavors.
1. Our Tea Service: 3 Ways We Make Choosing Easier
We designed our offerings to take the guesswork out of gongfu tea shopping—whether you’re a complete beginner or exploring new varieties.
1. Try Before You Commit: Sample Sets
4. We offer small-batch samples (10-20g per tea) in curated sets:
1. Phoenix Dan Cong sampler: 5 single-bush varieties (honey-orchid, osmanthus, etc.) to compare "shan yun" (mountain charm).
2. Beginner pack: A mix of oolong, Pu’er, and white tea—perfect for discovering your preference.
5. Each sample comes with a info card: origin (e.g., Phoenix Mountain, 800m altitude), processing method (traditional charcoal roasting), and brewing tips.
2. Transparent Details: No "Mystery Marketing"
6. Every tea in our collection includes 5 key details (no vague "premium" labels):
1. Ingredients: Harvest time (pre-rain / 明前，post-rain / 雨前) and leaf grade (e.g., "single-bush Phoenix Dan Cong").
2. Processing: Number of oxidation rounds, roasting level (e.g., "light roast to preserve floral notes").
3. Brewing guide: Exact water temp, leaf ratio, and steep times (e.g., "5g/100ml gaiwan, 95°C, 5-8s first steep").
4. Flavor profile: Highlighted notes (e.g., "honey sweetness, cooling throat finish").
5. Harvest date: Freshness matters—we list exact months for greens/whites (best within 6 months).
3. Personalized Support for Newbies
7. 1-on-1 consultations: Tell our team your taste (e.g., "I prefer mild over bitter" or "love strong aromas")—we’ll recommend 2-3 teas to try.
8. Free brewing guides: Included with every purchase (Video + Pic), with tea-specific tips (e.g., "rinse Pu’er twice, skip rinsing white tea").
2. How to Identify High-Quality Gongfu Tea: 5-Step Check
Use this method with our samples to train your eye (and palate) for quality.
Step 1: Inspect Dry Leaves
9. What to look for: Tight, uniform rolls (e.g., Phoenix Dan Cong’s "shrimp-like" curls) with natural color (no dyed bright greens or blacks).
10. Red flags: Lots of crumbs, yellow stems, or uneven coloring (signals poor sorting).
Step 2: Smell Dry Aroma
11. What to notice: Clean, layered scents (e.g., fresh grass for greens, honey/flower for oolongs).
12. Red flags: Musty, burnt, or artificial perfume-like smells (indicates staleness or additives).
Step 3: Observe Liquor Color
13. What to see: Clear, bright hues (e.g., pale amber for Phoenix Dan Cong, orange-red for aged Pu’er).
14. Red flags: Cloudiness, sediment, or dull gray tones (signals low-grade leaves or improper processing).
Step 4: Taste the Liquor
15. What to feel: Smooth texture, balanced flavor (no harsh bitterness), and lingering sweetness ("hui gan").
16. Red flags: Sharp astringency, hollow "wateriness," or short finish (fades immediately after swallowing).
Step 5: Check Wet Leaves
17. What to examine: Flexible, whole leaves (after 5+ steeps) with even color (e.g., oolongs show green centers with red edges).
18. Red flags: Brittle, broken leaves or uneven oxidation (splotchy green/brown).
Tea-Specific Checks (Our Bestsellers)
19. Phoenix Dan Cong: Look for "red-edged leaves" post-brew—sign of proper oxidation. Dry aroma should have "mountain freshness."
20. Wuyi Rock Tea: "dragonfly head" dry leaves (thick, knobby tips). Liquor should have "yan yun" (mineral-rich depth).
21. Aged Pu’er: Wet leaves stay flexible, not stiff. Liquor has a "woody sweetness" (no moldy notes).
3. Tasting Vocabulary: From "Good" to "Descriptive"
Stop saying "it tastes nice"—use these terms to capture gongfu tea’s complexity.
Aroma Terms
22. Floral: 兰香 (orchid), 桂香 (osmanthus) – common in light oolongs.
23. Fruity: 蜜香 (honey), 枣香 (date) – found in roasted oolongs, aged whites.
24. Earthy: 岩韵 (yan yun, rock minerality) – signature of Wuyi teas.
25. Fresh: 山韵 (shan yun, mountain crispness) – key in high-altitude Phoenix Dan Cong.
Taste & Texture Terms
26. 回甘 (hui gan): Sweetness that spreads across the tongue after swallowing (e.g., Phoenix Dan Cong’s finish).
27. 生津 (sheng jin): Salivation in cheeks (sign of quality—try our aged white tea).
28. 喉韵 (hou yun): Lingering flavor in the throat (e.g., Pu’er’s warm, lasting sweetness).
29. 醇厚 (chun hou): Rich, full-bodied texture (aged Pu’er, dark oolongs).
Practice Exercise
Brew our honey-orchid Phoenix Dan Cong and note:
1. Dry aroma: "Honey + fresh grass"
2. First steep: "Bright floral, light sweetness"
3. Third steep: "Deepens to "Shan Yun", "Hui Gan" on tongue"
4. Finish: "Cool “Hou Yun” lingers 10+ seconds"
4. Simple Tea Tools to Start With
You don’t need a full setup—just these basics to enjoy our teas:
5. 100ml white porcelain gaiwan (easy to clean, shows color).
6. Glass fairness cup (see clarity).
7. Small 30ml cups (concentrate aroma).
8. We offer a "beginner kit" with these—perfect for pairing with our samples.
Final Thought
Gongfu tea is about exploration, not perfection. Start with our sample sets to learn what you love, use the 5-step check to build confidence, and let the vocabulary grow with your palate.
We’re here to make the journey easy—whether you’re sipping your first Phoenix Dan Cong or refining your "yan yun" detection skills. Cheers to finding your perfect cup.