When enjoying Guyu tea, it's important to select high-quality tea and consider the following aspects: appropriate water temperature and steeping time to fully bring out the tea's flavor; understanding the characteristics of the tea and adjusting according to personal taste; maintaining a pleasant environment and mindset to enhance the tea-tasting experience.
I. The Origin of Guyu Tea
Guyu tea has its roots in ancient Chinese agrarian society, with origins traceable back to the Tang Dynasty. At that time, tea farmers discovered that tea picked during the Guyu period had exceptional quality, leading to the gradual formation of this unique tea beverage. From the Song Dynasty onward, Guyu tea gradually gained favor among scholars and poets, becoming an essential medium for their tea appreciation and poetic discussions. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guyu tea had become a precious gem within Chinese tea culture, highly regarded.
II. Quality Characteristics of Guyu Tea
The quality characteristics of Guyu tea are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. High-Quality Fresh Leaves: During the Guyu period, the climate is moderate, and rainfall is abundant, promoting vigorous growth of tea plants with thick leaves rich in internal substances, providing an excellent raw material base for producing high-quality tea.
2. Unique Aroma: Guyu tea has a fresh and lingering aroma known as “Guyu fragrance.” This aroma is distinct from the clear scent of green tea or the sweet aroma of black tea, instead, it is a unique floral and fruity fragrance that is captivating.
3. Bright Liquor Color: Guyu tea has a bright yellow-green liquor color, clear and transparent, with high aesthetic value.
4. Fresh and Refreshing Taste: Guyu tea has a fresh and refreshing taste with a strong saliva-inducing effect. One sip brings an immediate sensation of saliva in the mouth, leaving a lasting aftertaste.
5. Tender Green Leaf Bottom: The leaf bottom of Guyu tea is tender and uniformly green, soft and thick, indicating the high quality of the tea.
III. Production Process of Guyu Tea
The production process of Guyu tea mainly includes the following steps:
1. Picking: The picking time for Guyu tea is strictly controlled around the Guyu period, with standards of one bud and one leaf or one bud and two initial leaves to ensure the quality of the tea.
2. Fixation: Freshly picked leaves are quickly stir-fried in a high-temperature pot to rapidly evaporate the moisture and prevent oxidation and spoilage of the tea.
3. Rolling: After fixation, the tea leaves are rolled to break the cell walls, facilitating the release of the internal substances of the tea.
4. Drying: The rolled tea leaves undergo drying to reduce the moisture content to a certain level, making storage easier.
5. Sorting: After drying, the tea is sorted to remove impurities and substandard leaves, ensuring the quality of the Guyu tea.
IV. Nutritional Value of Guyu Tea
Guyu tea is rich in various nutrients and has high nutritional value. It contains higher levels of components such as tea polyphenols, amino acids, and caffeine.
V. How to Enjoy Guyu Tea
When enjoying Guyu tea, consider the following points:
1. Choose Suitable Teaware: For enjoying Guyu tea, it's best to use glass cups or white porcelain cups to observe the shape of the tea leaves and the color of the liquor.
2. Appropriate Water Temperature: The water temperature for brewing Guyu tea should be between 80-85°C. Higher temperatures can destroy the nutritional components and affect the taste.
3. Proper Amount of Tea: Based on personal taste and the size of the teaware, add an appropriate amount of tea, generally 3-5 grams per cup.
4. Steeping Time: The steeping time for Guyu tea is usually 3-5 minutes. Longer or shorter times will impact the taste of the tea liquor.
5. Tasting Techniques: When enjoying Guyu tea, first smell the aroma, then observe the shape, and finally savor the taste. Carefully appreciate the aroma, color, taste, and leaf bottom of the Guyu tea to fully appreciate its unique charm.
Guyu tea, as a precious gem in tea culture, is deeply loved by tea enthusiasts for its unique quality characteristics and rich cultural heritage. In our fast-paced modern lives, enjoying a cup of Guyu tea not only allows us to feel nature's bounty but also enables us to experience the profoundness and complexity of Chinese tea culture. Let us cherish this gift from nature together, and carry forward the unique tea culture of Guyu tea.