Green Tea

Lu'an Guapian六安瓜片

Lù'ān Guāpiàn

Green Tea Qimen County Spring Harvest

Famous Anhui green tea whose name means "Lu'an Melon Seed" for its flat, oval, seed-like leaves. Unique among Chinese greens for being made without buds or stems, yielding a sweet, orchid-laden cup with a silky texture.

Flavor Profile

Primary Notes

Sweet Corn Orchid Lima Bean Chestnut

Secondary Notes

Light Toast Edamame Honey

Aroma

Fresh Orchid Roasted Chestnut Sweet Grass
Body Medium
Mouthfeel silky, smooth and slightly thick with a clean, refreshing finish
Finish long, sweet and cooling with lingering orchid and bean notes
Caffeine Moderate

How to Understand Lu'an Guapian

In the cup, Lu'an Guapian is best understood as a green tea built around sweet corn, orchid, lima bean, and chestnut. The secondary notes of light toast, edamame, and honey give it more range than a simple category label suggests, while the aroma leans toward fresh orchid, roasted chestnut, and sweet grass. Expect a medium body and a finish that long, sweet and cooling with lingering orchid and bean notes.

The origin matters here. Lu'an Guapian is associated with Qimen County in Anhui, so the page should be read as a profile of both tea style and place. Birthplace of Keemun black tea. Humid, forested hills. That context helps explain why two teas in the same broad family can taste noticeably different.

Processing is the other major clue: green tea is typically halted oxidation through early heat-fixing, so the finished tea keeps a fresh, high-toned profile. For Lu'an Guapian, the oxidation level is 0% when measured on a simple scale.

For brewing, start near 80C with about 4g per 100ml. The first infusion at roughly 20 seconds should show the tea's structure without over-extracting it; later steeps can move in 5-second increments. Because the expected range is about 6 infusions, this tea is better judged across a session than from one long steep.

When buying Lu'an Guapian, use price as a quality signal but not the only one. A common mid-range benchmark is around $16-$30 per 50g. Look for clean aroma, credible origin naming, and leaf appearance that matches the style before paying premium prices.

It is especially useful for afternoon focus, daily drinking, and guests. With moderate caffeine and a medium body, it can fit different roles depending on steep strength: lighter infusions emphasize fragrance, while slightly longer infusions bring out texture and finish.

How to Brew Lu'an Guapian

Gongfu Style

Tea Amount g / 100ml
Water Temperature 80°C
First Steep 20s
Infusions +

Origin & Processing

Growing Region

Lu'an Guapian comes from Qimen County (祁门) in Anhui Province . Birthplace of Keemun black tea. Humid, forested hills.

Oxidation Level

0%

Cultivar

local large-leaf guapian bush

History

Recorded since the Tang dynasty and designated an Imperial Tribute tea during the Qing; produced only in the Dabie Mountains around Lu'an city, traditionally pan-fired over charcoal and baked slowly to develop its signature chestnut-orchid profile.

Pricing Guide

Prices for Lu'an Guapian vary based on quality, harvest time, and source.

Entry Level
$8–$15
per 50g
Premium
$35–$80
per 50g

Best Occasions

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Tea Comparisons

See how Lu'an Guapian compares to other teas:

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