China Green Tea Leaves
What is green tea? China green tea leaves is a tea category with the most number of tea variations. It occupies 4 to 6 positions of the ten famous Chinese teas (depending on what table you look at!).
Lung Jing (Dragons Well), Bi Luo Chun (Jade Spring Snail) and Mao Jian are to name a few. Characteristics of fine, high quality loose leaf green teas include nutty, sweet, vegetal, smokey, fragrant, melon, and delicate.
The shape of loose leaf green tea can vary too. From panfired flattened Lung jing to tightly rolled pellets of gunpowder green tea. Then you have the 4 to 6cm machine rolled with pattern, flattened loose leaves of TaiPing Hou Kui, to the tight fur covered snail like shape of Bi Luo Chun.
Understanding the preparation of making a green tea using loose leaves can help find these characteristics (dependent on tea quality of course).
Not using boiling water - 85 degrees celsius at most, infusion time can play a big factor as well - between 1 minute to 2 minutes 30 seconds maximum.
Also disturbing the tea while it infuses. For example, don't stir it while it infuses, as it forces the leaves to release the caffeine and tannins which in turn creates the bitterness.
Price range: £3.50 through £7.50
