More green tea: two Guapians

Posted on 30 January 2009

2008 Liu An Guapian AA from Jing Tea

Two similarly priced examples ($22 and $25 per 100g, respectively): 2008 Liu An Guapian AA from Jing Tea (hereafter ‘A’) and 2008 Supreme Liu An Guapian from Dragon Tea House (‘B’). Both were brewed in gaiwan with 4g / 120ml with 40s (80C), 25s (85C), 40s, 1m.

2008 Supreme Liu An Guapian from Dragon Tea House

Dry leaf:
A: Average sized dark green leaves, like miniature rolled cigars.
B: Large dark green leaves with a pleasant, fruity aroma (melon is in fact not a bad descriptor), pretty complex.

Tasting notes:
A: Lid and cup aroma has three main notes: mild pea, dried hay, and a fruity note akin to melon. Medium bodied for a green tea, with absolutely no astringency. Not very crisp. Really enjoyable, with a good balance of fruity and vegetal elements. In later brewings aroma is more green-spicy, palate smooth with good length, not very distinctive or complex. This seems pretty forgiving of water temperature: no bitterness on the horizon.

Brewing #1 of 2008 Liu An Guapian AA from Jing Tea

B: Starts with a very minor melon note on the nose, then receding into a more hayey green tea generic register. Good intensity and character throughout the first brewing, ending on a chewy, strangely meaty (chicken came to mind) flavour. No astringency but that elusive and welcome ‘presence’ on the finish. Brewing #2 has a bit less precision, finish is still balanced and unbitter when water is cooled down a bit. Brewing #3: Still good, it takes another 1m brewing to really recede into aromatic anonymousness, though surely not blandness (still some grip on end). Good tea here.

Overall:
Two very competent (if not cheap) examples of this famous tea. Unlike small-leaf teas such as Maofeng or Biluochun, this packs in quite some power and solid flavour, but shows a fruitier, fresher profile than the more nutty, beany Houkui that I reviewed yesterday.