Drinking tea for health preservation is also becoming increasingly popular among young people. Do you know how to distinguish Mingqian tea from Yuqian tea? Can you tell the difference between ordinary green tea and black tea? Follow the editor below to learn about the differences between these two types of tea!
What is Mingqian tea?
Tea picked and made before the Qingming Festival. It suffers less from pests, with tender buds and leaves, a vibrant green color, a delicate aroma, a mellow taste, and a beautiful appearance, making it a fine quality tea. At the same time, because the temperature before the Qingming Festival is generally low, the germination is limited, and the growth is slow, the output of tea that meets the picking standards is very small. Therefore, there is a saying that "Mingqian tea is as precious as gold." The main types of Mingqian tea are green tea and a small amount of black tea, while teas like Tieguanyin, Dahongpao, and Pu'er do not have a Mingqian category.
What is Yuqian tea?
Tea made from tender bud tips picked after the Qingming Festival and before the Grain Rain, that is, from around April 5th to around April 20th. Although Yuqian tea is not as tender as Mingqian tea, the temperature is higher at this time, the buds and leaves grow relatively faster, and the accumulated substances are richer. Therefore, Yuqian tea often has a fresh and rich flavor and is resistant to multiple infusions.
What are the differences between Mingqian tea and Yuqian tea?
1. Different picking and processing times. Mingqian tea is picked and processed before the Qingming Festival, while Yuqian tea is picked and processed after the Qingming Festival and before the Grain Rain.
2. Different quality and taste. Mingqian tea is relatively tender, while Yuqian tea has a fresh and rich flavor and is resistant to multiple infusions. The amino acid content in Mingqian tea is relatively higher than in later-picked tea, while the astringent-tasting tea polyphenols are relatively lower, making the tea fragrant and mellow in taste. Yuqian tea has a thin and short leaf body, a prominent aroma, a slightly bitter taste, and a strong, heavy quality.
3. Mingqian tea has a lower yield, while Yuqian tea has a higher yield. Mingqian tea is affected by temperature, so the growth rate of tea buds is slower, resulting in a smaller quantity that can be picked. "Things are precious when they are rare," so its price is quite high. During the time of Yuqian tea, the temperature is higher, and the growth rate of buds and leaves also speeds up. Moreover, the tea produced at this time will be fresher and richer in flavor.