Hey all, does Season of harvest matter to you?

Hello Steepster friends.

As a fellow tea drinker, I am curious how common of a question this is: “What season is this tea from?”

I know little about Oolongs and other teas, so interested to hear if season is really relevant in other types of teas, as it is in Pu’er.

Thanks all :) Happy Easter

32 Replies

yes, I am a Darjeeling (and Nepali) tea lover, and love FF, and 2nd Flushes.
Also love sencha, prefer an early or first flush.

I now and then drink oolongs, and prefer autumn oolongs over spring ones….

In the spring,Green Tea have the best quality, In the autumn, Oolong Tea (such as tieguanyin), have the best quality

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I am mostly a pu’er drinker as well, but the same does apply to other teas as well!

In different seasons the tea grows under very different conditions, and it does show. I don’t think it’s necessarily a ‘this is better than that’ kind of deal, and it relies heavily upon personal preference.

I love my winter oolongs! :D

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There is a close relationship between the effect of tea and seasonal variations, different seasons of different varieties of tea drinking, the more beneficial to the body.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-year-380g-bag-Yunnan-Dianhong-Dian-Hong-Classical-58-China-Fengpai-Phoenix-brand-Black-Tea/2028806268.html

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Anlina said

While I won’t necessarily ask if the information isn’t provided, the more info the better. Season and flush can have a big impact on the flavour, and for me, part of the tea experience is understanding what I’m drinking.

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Great points.

Is autumn Oolong also cheaper than Spring?

Depends on the tea. Tie Guan Yin is often more expensive because the autumn harvest is more aromatic :)

LuckyMe said

Is that true for all oolongs? I’ve actually heard the spring harvest is more aromatic but the autumn harvest tastes better.

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Dr Jim said

I tend to favor spring pu-erh, though I’m still exploring. In Darjeeling, I like both 1st and 2nd flush, depending on my mood, but definitely want to know what I’m drinking. I’ve been less impressed with Autumn Darjeeling, and probably wouldn’t buy them. Other teas I haven’t really followed, though I’m not a green tea drinker.

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it matters to me sometimes, i prefer autumn and winter teas

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AllanK said

While season and harvest matter in theory. In practice if you hand me two teas and don’t tell me which is which, I probably can’t tell them apart. I’m not well versed enough in tea to tell harvest from the taste of the tea.

Brian said

new to tea….with 580 tasting notes? ;-P

mrmopar said

So much tea and so little time….especially with puerh that goes on and on…….I am with Allan. I am still learning these things as well.

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Excelsior said

It’s a night and day difference for Darjeelings. I prefer 1st flush Darjeelings.

For High Mountain Taiwanese Oolongs, I prefer Winter. The Da Yu Ling, Winter, is always out of this world.

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yyz said

I know at least for my favourite green tea Rizhao. The first Spring harvests are considered to be the most valuable, seconded by the autumn, then the winter ( under greenhouse and lower yield hence the cost). The summer harvest is considered to be the lowest quality. I prefer the fruitiness of the first spring harvest with less of the heavier veg tones if the later spring harvests.

yyz said

As for Assam the second flush teas are more valuable than the first harvest.

2nd harvest Assam is strong, and malty. I have a couple first picks, and was surprised how different they are… they are fruity, and lack the maltiness of the 2nd pluck. I wouldn’t normally buy a FF Assam, but have a few samplers from my Golden Tips Sub. and I bought one locally

yyz said

I have one ff Assam. It’s almost Darjeeling like. It is very different I agree:-)

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