How to distinguish the seven steps of tea quality identification what are the quality identification standards of tea

We all know the basic principle of the quality standard of bulk tea: do not buy bagged tea, make sure the tea is not dust. However, there are many standards for tea picking and production. Although these standards vary depending on the type and variety of tea, there are some standards that apply to most bulk tea.

Tea quality standard

The Common attribute of Tea Standard

Whether black tea, oolong tea, green tea, yellow tea, white tea or Pu'er tea, tea has similar common characteristics. This section will make special mention of tea from China and Taiwan, however, because the rules and styles of Japanese tea are significantly different.

Picked tea leaves

The picked tea should be intact, intact and without skin damage (no damage). This shows that the tea is picked carefully, not picked quickly or by machine.

Uniformity of tea

For high-quality tea, most of the shape and size of tea should be the same. This is also determined by the picking criteria for specific types of tea. For example, many (but not all) high-quality teas contain only the original buds and tea. If there is a mixture of large teas and small, young teas, it may indicate that picking standards are not being followed. Sometimes, older and larger teas are mixed together to produce higher quantities of tea, but the price of tea that people buy is still high.

Variety

According to the different varieties of tea, the variety can actually explain a lot about tea. Although some teas of the same category can be produced with different varieties, others must adhere to one variety in order to be considered real tea. In our recent blog, we talked about "Dahongpao". Today, Dahongpao has a wide variety and good quality. However, some farmers still raise the price of their DHP, saying it is authentic Dahongpao oolong tea, produced from only one variety (Qidan). When buying tea, it may be important to ask about the variety.

The season of harvest

Each kind of tea has a specific harvest time and should be adhered to. Many top teas are harvested in early spring, just after the last frost. It usually takes only a week, and the ideal tea harvest will not be overripe due to sunlight and rising temperatures. Tea harvested in late spring or even summer usually has larger leaves. According to the kind of tea you buy, it is important to pay attention to the harvest date. It should also be noted that these harvest dates vary from location to location. Tea grown in northern China or at a higher altitude will naturally have a later harvest date. For more information, please check out our article "what is the harvest season for tea?"

The location of the tea farm

A lot of tea is related to the place of origin. A good example is Pu'er. Only Pu'er produced in Yunnan, China can be regarded as real Pu'er. Another example is salt tea, which can only be produced in Wuyi Mountain. There may not be a real version of this tea elsewhere. The same applies to "mountain tea", which may not grow at high altitudes at all. A kind of tea can be considered mountain tea only at an altitude of at least 3300 feet (1000 meters) above sea level. Read more: how altitude affects the quality of tea

The concept and practice of growth

This is another key point when talking about high-quality specialty tea. Is it pesticide use? Are the leaves picked by hand? Is the tea garden sustainable? How have tea farmers been treated? This information may be harder to obtain, but it is worth the risk of asking the appropriate questions.

Packing

We believe that most tea merchants adhere to correct storage and packaging practices. However, this is not always the case. Especially when it comes to fermented Pu'er tea, it can be obvious when the tea is not properly stored. Read more. Some basic rules are: tea cannot be sold in plastic bags, transparent self-sealed bags or glass bottles. Tea leaves are not suitable for exposure to light. They may lose energy, taste and aroma more quickly. Cans or opaque bags with lining are good choices. In addition, make sure there is no aluminum in the tea, because aluminum may be harmful to our health and the taste of the tea.

The quality of Chinese tea

These are the things we can see before we taste the tea ourselves. If you already know the above points, it's best not to try. However, if these qualities look good, then you can start tasting tea. To learn about the taste and aroma of tea, please click here.

These tea standards are sometimes difficult to grasp. In China, there are at least four systems-national, provincial, local and individual (proposed by specific tea merchants themselves to maintain the standard quality of their tea). Unfortunately, without a recognized system (like coffee), it is difficult to track and control tea farmers.