Gua Pian
Type
Green
Pronunciation
Goo-ah Pee-ahn
Gua Pian is the only Chinese green tea made using only leaves, no buds or stems. This Gua Pian is from heirloom trees in Lu An, one of the oldest tea-making regions in China with over 1000 years of tea-making history.
Since green teas are the freshest teas, watching the leaves unfold into their natural shape is a part of the green tea drinking experience. Therefore, glass pitchers and thinly walled white porcelain pitchers are preferred.
Green tea usually produces five to six brews, with the second or third brew being the strongest.
Brewing Guide
Use 175F water. Green tea is quite sensitive, using boiling water will cause the tea to taste bitter. Use 6-8g of tea per 12oz of water (about the size of a coffee mug).
20-30 seconds. The first brew usually produces the most bitterness! It takes a little bit to open up the leaves and for the grassy sweetness to come out.
35 seconds
Add 5 - 10 seconds for subsequent brews. Use your best judgement! If the tea tastes bitter, use less time. If the tea tastes weak, use more!
The third steep of tea is always said to be the “true nature” of the tea. For this green tea, by the third steep, the initial bitterness will start to fade and the grassy deep flavors will open up.