{"product_id":"lu-an-gua-pian","title":"Lu'an Guapian Spring Tea","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese: míng qián lù ān guā piàn chūn chá\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTranslation: Pre-Qingming Lu'an Guapian Spring Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Green Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar: Jinyu n.1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Luan, Anhui\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date: 2026\/03\/29\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStorage Methods: Refrigeration, Sealing, Moistureproof, Avoid light.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn Invitation to the Mountain\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome teas are sipped. This one demands a quiet moment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHigh in the mist‑veiled peaks of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQi Shan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—the historic heartland of Lu'an Guapian—a short window opens each spring. Before the first rain, when the mountain air is still crisp, our tea masters begin their ritual. They walk the terraced rows at dawn, eyes fixed not on the tender bud but on the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esecond leaf\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that unfurls beside it. That single leaf, they know, holds the soul of this tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe 2026 “Kai Yuan” (Open Garden) Harvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the very first pluck of the season. The leaves are still imbued with winter’s reserve—concentrated, nutrient‑dense, and quietly powerful. Because we harvest only on the opening day, every leaf carries the same pristine energy. There is no mixing of later plucks, no compromise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLu'an Guapian, one of the classical \"Ten Famous Teas of China\", is an unusual Chinese green tea delicacy hailing from Jinzhai County near Lu'an and Huoshan in western Anhui province. guā piàn can be translated to Melon Seed, as the curled tea leaves resemble the skin of a squash variety regional to Lu'an.  The name Lu'an Guapian translates as Lu’an melon seed, referring to the origin of this fine tea: the city of Lu’an in Anhui Province. The ‘Melon Seed’ part of the name comes from the fact that the processed tea leaves resemble a melon seed shape when brewed and fully flat and open. Hence, this tea has a very descriptive name: Melon Seed from the city of Lu’An.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Craft That Defies Convention\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile nearly all other famous green teas celebrate the bud, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLu'an Gua Pian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e stands alone. The bud is intentionally removed. The tea master then takes the second leaf—now stripped of any stem—and begins the demanding \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePian Cha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e method: each leaf is individually pressed against a hot wok to shape it into its signature flat, crescent form, resembling a melon seed (or sunflower seed). After the wok firing comes the soul of the craft: slow, patient \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003echarcoal roasting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This is not a quick drying; it is a delicate dance that transforms the leaf, coaxing out deep nutty notes while locking in a wild orchid fragrance.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnlike the vast majority of other teas, LuAn Guapian does not include the terminal bud or conjoining stems that are typically harvested intact as a set for tea production.  Instead, Lu'an Guapian features only leaves allowed to grow past its furled bud state, making a uniformly leafy tea, considered unbecoming and visually drab by some.  Also noteworthy is the use of traditional brooms during the wok-firing step, so that the leafy nature of Guapian is able to be curled into its distinctive rolled shape by the bristles of the straw broom.  Adding to its homely and unconventional appearance, it is natural for this broom-wokking step to create blistering on the leaves.  Modern mechanized versions have proliferated the export market, identified by a uniformity in the leaf size and how it's machine-rolled into a straightened signature cigar shape. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Cup\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePour water just off the boil—around 175°F—and watch. The flat emerald leaves swirl, then slowly unfurl like a mountain unfolding. The aroma rises first: toasted chestnut, sun‑warmed hay, a whisper of wildflower honey. The first sip is unexpectedly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebold for a green tea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—a rich, savory body with a distinct toasty warmth, followed by a clean, almost crystalline sweetness that lingers. With each subsequent steep, the tea reveals new layers: a hint of stone fruit, a subtle minerality that speaks to the rocky Qi Shan soil.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat It Is Not\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is not a delicate, fleeting green tea that fades after one cup. It is robust enough to accompany a hearty meal, complex enough to reward a contemplative session, and crafted to yield \u003cstrong\u003ethree to four generous infusions\u003c\/strong\u003e—a quiet luxury that unfolds over time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlass Cup Brewing Method: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-The ratio of green tea to water is 1:50, and a glass cup of about 300ml can pour 5g of tea.\u003cbr\u003e-Pour water into the cup (the water temperature is 80~85°C), pour it slowly along the wall of the cup, and let the tea leaves fully infiltrate. The speed of water injection should not be too fast.\u003cbr\u003e-Wait for 3 to 5 minutes, and you can drink the delicious green tea soup. When you drink 1\/3 of the teacup, you can refill the water, usually brewing 3 times.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"MoriMa Tea","offers":[{"title":"Sample 10g","offer_id":533464219672,"sku":"GT-LAGP-2","price":8.68,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":533464252440,"sku":"GT-LAGP-2","price":36.27,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":533464285208,"sku":"GT-LAGP-2","price":65.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g","offer_id":533464317976,"sku":"GT-LAGP-2","price":111.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2323\/3605\/files\/Pre-Qingming_Spring_Tea_Lu_an_Guapian_1.jpg?v=1774755009","url":"https:\/\/www.morimatea.com\/ja\/products\/lu-an-gua-pian","provider":"Authentic Chinese tea | Born for You, Burn for MMT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}