TeaHQ

Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed)

Already in the catalogue under its Chinese name; this record is not a duplicate but the mature-leaf variant picked later in the season. It is the only famous Chinese green tea made from a single mature leaf with the bud and stem deliberately discarded, and the later picking gives a heavier, more roasted cup.

Green teaModerate intensityIntermediate to appreciate六安瓜片
Brew at 80–90 °CUse 1.5–2.5 g per 100 mlFirst steep 120sWestern brewing (teapot or mug)Full schedule and equipment →

Character

Toastier and fuller than the early-spring picking, with the same characteristic absence of any bud sweetness.

Flavour
Roasted, Nutty, Grassy
Aroma
Toasted
Mouthfeel
Medium, Smooth
Complexity
Moderate
Notes
toasted grain, chestnut, warm hay
Aftertaste
Toasty and clean.

Moderate intensity: noticeable weight or grip, but neither dominates the cup.

Provenance and production

Origin
China
Region
Lu’an
Oxidation
Unoxidised
Roast
Light
Harvest
Spring
Processing
Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting → Drying

Brewing

No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.

If you like this

Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.

Editorially linked

Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.

  • Liu An Gua Pian

    The same tea at two picking times, sold under the Chinese and translated names. Later picking gives a heavier, more roasted cup.

  • Huoshan Huang Da Cha

    Two Anhui teas from adjacent areas made from mature leaf, one yellow and one green. The yellowing step is the difference and it is often skipped.

Similar sensory profile

Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.

  • Kamairicha

    Shares 6 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): nutty, roasted, grassy, medium, smooth and toasted.

  • Beigang Mao Jian

    Shares 5 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): nutty, grassy, medium, smooth and toasted.

  • Genmaicha

    Shares 5 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): nutty, roasted, grassy, smooth and toasted.

  • Jungjak

    Shares 5 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): roasted, grassy, medium, smooth and toasted.

  • Matcha-iri genmaicha

    Shares 5 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): roasted, nutty, medium, smooth and toasted.

  • Sayama sencha

    Shares 5 descriptors with Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed): roasted, grassy, nutty, smooth and toasted.

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