Melon Seeds | Liu An Gua Pian - Option: 500 g

Lu An Gua Pian 六安瓜片 green tea originates from Anhui Province of China. It is featured in almost all lists of ‘China’s Famous Teas’ and is mentioned extensively throughout Chinese tea history. Several times pan-fried leaf of this famous green tea has a distinct shape, producing a vegetal liquor with a sweet aftertaste. Our Lu An Gua Pian is grown around Qi Shan 齐山 village of Liu An City Prefecture in Anhui Province at an altitude of approximately 800m.

This tea is definitely among the most labor-intensive Chinese teas. Its hand-made processing usually lasts more than 2 weeks, which involves a lot of very specific manual tasks. This tea is special in its appearance. It looks a bit like watermelon seed so it was named after it. While processing, buds and stalks are removed, only leaves are used. Unlike the most of Chinese famous green teas which undergo frying only once, Liu An Gua Pian contains three levels of baking on a bamboo basket. This is how specific qualities of Liu An Gua Pian are achieved. The very last baking is extremely laborous and critical to the tea quality. The processed leaves have jade green color covered with a thin layer of white frost.  It has very strong fragrance while brewing, its taste is mellow sweet.

In Qing Dynasty, it was a precious tribute tea to the royal family. As its supply was very limited to a few people only, it was more precious than gold. There was in history very famous Empress Cixi, the highest-ranked imperial concubine. She was not eligible to enjoy this tribute. Till later she gave birth to the crown prince, she got a supply of around two pounds of Liu An Gua Pian each month.