About me
I come from a mountain village in Zhejiang, China. My family has a bamboo forest and tea garden, so I have been familiar with tea picking, tea making, and drinking since I was young.
But when I left my hometown to study and work in a wider city, I met more teachers and friends, and learned more and more about tea. I began to doubt in my heart whether I really understood tea?
- The taste of tea should be astringent and strong
- The older the tea, the better
- The more expensive the tea, the better
I used to have these ideas too, until I started systematically studying the origin and story of tea. Then I realized that many of my previous understandings about tea were incorrect or incomplete.
About Taste
Bitter, astringent, and fresh, these are the comments we often hear about the taste of tea. Some merchants will boast about how strong and rich their tea taste is. But unfortunately, this may be wrong. Good tea is not bitter, it can also be sweet.
Raw materials and craftsmanship are the two most important factors affecting the taste of tea. To forge a good knife, good steel and excellent craftsmen are indispensable. My team and I have visited many excellent tea makers, some of whom have been making tea for generations. They have a deep understanding of what a good tea is and how to make it well.
About Age
"The older the tea, the better "is another misconception we often hear about tea.
Teas, like as white tea and Pu erh tea, will undergo oxidation over time, and their taste will become more mellow. But these teas must be stored in a dry environment, otherwise these teas will become moldy and spoiled.
Other types of tea, such as green tea and yellow tea, are usually dried but still contain high levels of moisture. In humid environments, tea leaves containing moisture will spoil and deteriorate, so these teas are usually not suitable for storage for a long time and should be consumed as soon as possible after harvesting.
About Price
"The more expensive the tea, the better ", this may be the biggest misconception about Chinese tea. Expensive tea is not necessarily good tea.
The reason why good tea is expensive is due to two reasons: low production and complex craftsmanship.
For example, the most famous green tea in China, West Lake Longjing, only grows in a few mountains around West Lake in Hangzhou, China. So the annual production is very low.
Similarly, good tea makers are few, because making good tea requires experience and hard work, which is why many people nowadays are unwilling to engage in this job.
Our Goal
To help everyone correctly understand Chinese tea.
To share high-quality Chinese loose-leaf tea.
To share some interesting stories about tea with everyone.