What is the difference between small vs large loose leaf tea?
I have two oolong teas of the same type (dong fang mei ren). One has long leaves that barely fit in a teaspoon. The other has much smaller leaves that are easily scooped up, and it has a weaker taste. However they seem to expand more when it's steeped.
Are smaller leaves generally an indication of lower quality?
Best Answer
Smaller leaves typically but not always would mean younger leaves and is associated with higher quality. However this is not always the case and especially by this particular tea I don't know how true this is.
This tea is supposed to be made by growing tea in Taiwan without pesticides. Having a particular bug chew on the leaves causing the plant to produce certain chemicals that give this tea its flavor.
Additionally it's supposed to only use the top two leaves.
All these things together could make this potentially a pretty expensive tea. So some manufacturers take various shortcuts life chopping the leaves so it looks like a smaller tip leaf but actually being a older leaf. Also being grown in Taiwan which has somewhat unstable weather and being dependent on those bugs makes this a very seasonal product that may be great some years and bland the next.
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Are bigger tea leaves better?
Dust and fannings are smaller pieces of tea, so they have a larger surface area than whole leaves. A larger surface area means more opportunities for the essential oils (what makes tea flavorful and aromatic) to evaporate, leaving the tea dull and stale.How do you choose loose leaf tea?
The first and foremost rule is that the larger the leaf, the higher the quality and the better the flavour. Pale green teas will usually be lighter in terms of flavour, while the dark green colour may indicate a strong infusion. If a strong cup of tea is what, then choose broken leaves without a second thought.Is Loose leaf tea better for you than bagged?
If you're drinking tea for the health benefits, stick with loose leaf tea. Loose tea releases more antioxidants, minerals and nutrients than the more processed tea bag.Is Loose leaf tea more potent?
Flavor profile: Loose-leaf tea offers a stronger flavor profile than bagged tea because the tea leaves tend to be fresher, and less ground-down.What's Better, Large Or Small Leaf Tea?
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Answer 2
Not necessarily. It could be because the leaves are from a different cultivar. However, it could also be that small leaves are from cultivated tea gardens while the larger leaves are from natural arbor trees. The latter has a much richer taste. At last, it could also be a difference due to processing. Oolong tea processing is probably the most complex compared to other types. There are more steps and balancing the fermentation level is challenging.
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