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2026 Lu’an Gua Pian “Melon Seed” Green Tea (2026 Spring)

2026 Lu’an Gua Pian “Melon Seed” Green Tea (2026 Spring)

Ling Shen

Type
Green Tea
Origin
Qishan Village, Mabu Town, Jinzhai County, Lu'an, Anhui Province, China
Cultivar
Qishan medium-leaf cultivar 齐山中叶种
Elevation
500–550m
Steeping instructions
Water: 85-95 °C / 185-203 °F. Gongfu style: 1g : 30ml, 20s + 10s per infusion. Bowl style: 1g : 80ml. Glass is recommended. This tea works well with water around 90˚C; drink once the tea cools to a comfortable temperature, then top up with more water. Cold brew: 1g : 120ml, 3 hours or longer.
Description
Lu’an Gua Pian is one of China’s most unusual famous green teas. Unlike most premium green teas, it is not made from tender buds. Instead, it uses mature single leaves, with the bud and stem removed. This gives the tea a fuller body and a deeper, more rounded taste. This Spring 2026 harvest comes from Qishan Village, Mabu Town, Jinzhai County, in the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui. This is one of the core areas associated with Lu’an Gua Pian. The leaves were picked and processed on April 14–15 from Qishan Zhongye Zhong, the local Qishan medium-leaf tea-tree type, at 500–550m elevation. The processing is highly distinctive. After picking and resting, the leaves are separated through the traditional pian process, then wok-fired and baked in several stages: raw wok, ripe wok, initial drying, re-baking to fix aroma, and a final high-temperature firing to lift fragrance and develop the tea’s classic roasted-green character. The dry leaves carry a chestnut aroma. In a warmed gaiwan, the fragrance turns toward roasted nuts. After contact with hot water, a cleaner green fragrance emerges. The liquor is fresh, sweet, mellow, and substantial, with a smooth body, gentle roasted depth, and a long sweet finish.

Shipped in April 2026

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