What is Bird's Tongue Tea? Learn about this unique and famous Chinese tea

Bird's Tongue Tea, doesn't the name remind us of the small and agile tongues of the birds jumping on the branches in spring? In fact, Bird's Tongue Tea is a very special kind of tea, which is named after its small shape, just like a bird's tongue. Not only does this tea have a lovely name, but it is also very unique in its flavor, aroma and production process, making it a treasure in the hearts of tea lovers.

Bird's Tongue Tea Types and Origins

1. Jintan Bird's TongueJintan Bird's Tongue, produced in the Jintan district of Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, is one of the finest green teas. The region has a pleasant climate and four distinct seasons, which creates the excellent quality of Jintan Bird's Tongue. This tea is named for its shape like a sparrow's tongue, green color, bright soup color, and fresh and elegant aroma.
2. Wuyi Bird's TongueWuyi Bird's Tongue is the only oolong tea produced in Fujian Wuyi Mountain. Wuyi Bird's Tongue has a brownish-green color close to black, strong fruity aroma, orange-yellow and clear tea broth, smooth mouthfeel, obvious aftertaste, and strong rocky flavor.
3. Mengshan Bird's Tongue: Mengshan Bird's Tongue from Mengshan Mountain in Sichuan Province is also a type of green tea. Mengshan Bird's Tongue tea leaves are tender and green, with a strong aroma and fresh flavor.
4. Meitan Bird's Tongue (Beijing): Meitan Bird's Tongue tea from Meitan, Guizhou Province has a bright green color, clear tea broth, fragrant aroma and delicious taste.

Bird's Tongue Tea Production Process

The process of making Bird's Tongue tea is very delicate, requiring careful picking and many complex processes. All the buds must be hand-picked, and the picking requirements are very strict, there is the so-called "nine do not pick" principle, i.e., do not pick on rainy days, do not pick multiple buds, do not pick hollow, do not pick openings, do not pick over-length, do not pick skinny, short buds do not pick, do not pick insect injuries, do not pick diseased buds do not pick. This ensures that the buds of Bird's Tongue tea are full, tender, well-proportioned and neat.

The production process is roughly divided into four steps: greening, striping, shaping and drying. High-temperature greening can prevent enzymatic oxidation and maintain the tender green color of the tea leaves, and at the same time, under the action of moisture inside the buds, a variety of physicochemical changes occur, laying the foundation for the color and flavor of the tea leaves. Striping and shaping is the process of forming the shape, aroma and flavor of tea leaves. Finally, drying the internal moisture of tea leaves, making the moisture content lower than 5%-7%, in order to facilitate the preservation of tea leaves and fix the color and aroma of tea leaves, quality molding.

How to Taste Bird's Tongue Tea

1. Tea Set Selection: It is best to use a clear glass so that you can appreciate the dance of the tea leaves in the water and the change in the color of the soup.
2. Brewing method: It is recommended to use a water temperature of about 85℃ for brewing. Use the medium throw method without washing the tea, first steep for 1 minute and then refill with water and steep for another 1 minute.
3. Taste the Tea SoupBird's Tongue Tea has an elegant aroma, bright soup color, and a fresh and sweet taste, making it an excellent tea tasting experience.

Bird's Tongue Tea

Bird's Tongue tea not only has a refreshing and pleasant flavor, it also has many health benefits. It is rich in a variety of vitamins and amino acids that help with antioxidants, boosting immunity, promoting digestion and weight loss. Regular consumption of Bird's Tongue tea can also help relieve fatigue and refresh the mind, making it a good choice for daily health care.

concluding remarks

Bird's Tongue Tea, the name sounds poetic and picturesque. It is not only a kind of tea, but also a cultural heritage and a pursuit of a better life. Whether in the busy after work, or in the leisurely afternoon, make a cup of Bird's Tongue Tea, let the fresh aroma of tea to take away the day's fatigue, let the fresh taste to wake up the sleeping taste buds, and let the long aftertaste to accompany you through every beautiful moment.