Old Soul 2026 Spring Liuan Guapian Green Tea

Description

Similar to Houkui, Liuan Guapian is another late picked green tea, but also one of the most unique. Unlike many others that rely on the tender buds and their amino acids to deliver a more umami quality, this tea is composed entirely of leaves… or leaf. 1 leaf each, actually.

By using only mature leaves, individually picked, the different chemical profile means it’s lower in caffeine, but higher in other polyphenols and chlorophyll, giving it a more vegetal depth and mineral finish.

However, picking isn’t the only factor that influences the final tea. The processing is also very involved. The tea goes through a kill green process, as do all greens, which involves frying in >100c wok to stop oxidization. After that there is a second frying where the leaf starts to take shape, being pressed and rolled against the wall using bundles of sorghum stalks.

The last roasting is the most unique though, as the tea is fired in baskets over charcoal at high heat. However, it only spends a few seconds over the heat, but does so many times, between 80-120 passes. This not only fully dries the tea, but also contributes a more toasted quality and slight sweetness, as well as a slight bluish-green colour.

This tea comes from Xianhualing (鲜花岭), which lies in Jinzhai (金寨) county in the inner mountain production region. Along with fresh vegetal and floral notes, there’s a pleasant roasted chestnut quality and sweetness. Compared to some other seasonal green teas, this Guapian is also quite full-bodied, with plenty of depth and a classic green tea taste.

$0.44-0.48/gram

Picking Period: April 20-25
Region: Xianhualing, Anhui