Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
The same tea at two picking times, sold under the Chinese and translated names. Later picking gives a heavier, more roasted cup.
Point by point
| Dimension | Lu An Gua Pian (Melon Seed) | Liu An Gua Pian |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Green tea · unoxidised | Green tea · unoxidised |
| Production | In order: Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting → Drying. light roast, mature leaf and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Kill-green (fixation) → Roasting → Drying. light roast, mature leaf and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Lu’an | China |
| Flavour | roasted, nutty and grassy. medium and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: toasted grain, chestnut, warm hay. Moderate in character. Moderate in intensity. | roasted, nutty and sweet. medium and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: toasted chestnut, charcoal, sweet grass, melon. Moderate in character. Moderate in intensity. |
| Brewing | Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 80–90 °C, first steep 120s. Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 3–4 g/100 ml at 75–85 °C, first steep 20s of 4 authored. | Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 80–90 °C, first steep 150s. Grandpa style: 0.5–1 g/100 ml at 75–85 °C, first steep 180s. Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 3–4 g/100 ml at 75–85 °C, first steep 20s of 4 authored. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Not recorded for this tea. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and has drunk enough tea to notice what changes between infusions. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.