By Taste
Chinese Tea Flavour Guide
Not sure what a 'vegetal' or 'earthy' tea tastes like? Every famous tea on this site is mapped to the flavors it actually delivers — find your cup by the taste you're craving, not by category name.
Floral
Orchid, lilac, and gardenia notes — the fragrance-forward teas that bloom in the cup.
Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) 铁观音
Anxi County, Fujian
Floral, orchid, creamy, lingering sweetness
Full guide
Huangshan Maofeng 黄山毛峰
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, lingering
Full guide
White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) 白牡丹
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Soft, fruity, floral, fuller body
Full guide
Biluochun 碧螺春
Dongting Mountain, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Fruity, floral, delicate, apricot
Full guide
Phoenix Dan Cong 凤凰单丛
Chaozhou, Guangdong
Peach, almond, honey, complex, natural fruit
Full guide
Anji Bai Cha 安吉白茶
Anji County, Zhejiang
Delicate, sweet, umami, extraordinary smoothness
Full guide
Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) 太平猴魁
Taiping County, Huangshan, Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, thick and full-bodied
Full guide
Xinyang Maojian (Fur Peak) 信阳毛尖
Xinyang, Henan
Fresh, floral, sweet, light and brisk
Full guide
Junshan Silver Needle 君山银针
Junshan Island, Dongting Lake, Hunan
Mellow, honeyed, sweet, smooth
Full guideFresh & Grassy
Crisp, vegetal, and clean — the signature character of China's finest green teas.
Longjing (Dragon Well) 龙井
Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Fresh, nutty, chestnut, sweet finish
Full guideBiluochun 碧螺春
Dongting Mountain, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Fruity, floral, delicate, apricot
Full guide
Gunpowder Green (Zhu Cha) 珠茶
Zhejiang (primarily Pingshui region)
Bold, smoky, vegetal, assertive
Full guideHuangshan Maofeng 黄山毛峰
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, lingering
Full guide
Pu-erh (Sheng / Raw) 生普洱
Xishuangbanna, Lincang, Pu'er, Yunnan
Green, astringent when young, ages into complexity
Full guideTaiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) 太平猴魁
Taiping County, Huangshan, Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, thick and full-bodied
Full guide
Liu'an Guapian (Melon Seed) 六安瓜片
Liu'an, Anhui
Toasty, nutty, slightly smoky, sweet
Full guideXinyang Maojian (Fur Peak) 信阳毛尖
Xinyang, Henan
Fresh, floral, sweet, light and brisk
Full guideFruity
Apricot, peach, and melon — natural fruit notes that need no flavoring.
Biluochun 碧螺春
Dongting Mountain, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Fruity, floral, delicate, apricot
Full guide
Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) 白毫银针
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Soft, melon, hay, natural sweetness
Full guidePhoenix Dan Cong 凤凰单丛
Chaozhou, Guangdong
Peach, almond, honey, complex, natural fruit
Full guideWhite Peony (Bai Mu Dan) 白牡丹
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Soft, fruity, floral, fuller body
Full guide
Shou Mei (Longevity Eyebrow) 寿眉
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Fruity, honeyed, earthy, fuller body
Full guideNutty
Toasted chestnut and roast grains — the warm, savory side of green tea.
Longjing (Dragon Well) 龙井
Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Fresh, nutty, chestnut, sweet finish
Full guideHuangshan Maofeng 黄山毛峰
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, lingering
Full guideAnji Bai Cha 安吉白茶
Anji County, Zhejiang
Delicate, sweet, umami, extraordinary smoothness
Full guideTaiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) 太平猴魁
Taiping County, Huangshan, Anhui
Fresh, orchid, sweet, thick and full-bodied
Full guideLiu'an Guapian (Melon Seed) 六安瓜片
Liu'an, Anhui
Toasty, nutty, slightly smoky, sweet
Full guideHoney & Sweet
Naturally sweet cups with honey, sweet potato, and lingering sweetness.
Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) 白毫银针
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Soft, melon, hay, natural sweetness
Full guideWhite Peony (Bai Mu Dan) 白牡丹
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Soft, fruity, floral, fuller body
Full guide
Dian Hong (Yunnan Black) 滇红
Fengqing and Lincang, Yunnan
Sweet potato, cocoa, rich, golden tips
Full guidePhoenix Dan Cong 凤凰单丛
Chaozhou, Guangdong
Peach, almond, honey, complex, natural fruit
Full guideAnji Bai Cha 安吉白茶
Anji County, Zhejiang
Delicate, sweet, umami, extraordinary smoothness
Full guideShou Mei (Longevity Eyebrow) 寿眉
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Fruity, honeyed, earthy, fuller body
Full guideJunshan Silver Needle 君山银针
Junshan Island, Dongting Lake, Hunan
Mellow, honeyed, sweet, smooth
Full guide
Jin Jun Mei (Golden Eyebrow) 金骏眉
Tongmu Village, Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
Honey, lychee, sweet, no astringency
Full guideMalty & Cocoa
Rich, full-bodied black teas with malt, cocoa, and a hint of smoke.
Keemun (Qimen) 祁门红茶
Qimen County, Anhui
Malty, smooth, cocoa, hint of smoke
Full guideDian Hong (Yunnan Black) 滇红
Fengqing and Lincang, Yunnan
Sweet potato, cocoa, rich, golden tips
Full guide
Pu-erh (Shou / Ripe) 熟普洱
Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Earthy, woody, smooth, dark chocolate
Full guideJin Jun Mei (Golden Eyebrow) 金骏眉
Tongmu Village, Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
Honey, lychee, sweet, no astringency
Full guideSmoky & Roasted
Campfire smoke, charcoal roast, and pine — bold and warming.
Lapsang Souchong 正山小种
Tongmu Village, Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
Smoky, pine, bold, longan
Full guide
Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) 大红袍
Wuyi Mountains, Fujian
Roasted, mineral, dark chocolate, rock rhythm
Full guideGunpowder Green (Zhu Cha) 珠茶
Zhejiang (primarily Pingshui region)
Bold, smoky, vegetal, assertive
Full guidePu-erh (Sheng / Raw) 生普洱
Xishuangbanna, Lincang, Pu'er, Yunnan
Green, astringent when young, ages into complexity
Full guideLiu'an Guapian (Melon Seed) 六安瓜片
Liu'an, Anhui
Toasty, nutty, slightly smoky, sweet
Full guideEarthy & Woody
Damp earth, aged wood, and dark chocolate — the fermented, aged character of dark tea.
Pu-erh (Shou / Ripe) 熟普洱
Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Earthy, woody, smooth, dark chocolate
Full guidePu-erh (Sheng / Raw) 生普洱
Xishuangbanna, Lincang, Pu'er, Yunnan
Green, astringent when young, ages into complexity
Full guideShou Mei (Longevity Eyebrow) 寿眉
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian
Fruity, honeyed, earthy, fuller body
Full guideNew to describing tea?
Professionals use hundreds of terms for the taste of tea. We've distilled the essential vocabulary — hui gan, yan yun, mouthfeel, and more — into a plain-English Chinese tea tasting terms guide.
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