When you feel that the tea in your mouth is too bitter, the other party will reply to you, “If it is not bitter or astringent, it is not tea”. Why is the nature of tea bitter? Why is there no shadow of “bitterness” on some teas? In the end, which is true? Which is false?
Why must tea be bitter?
The bitterness of tea is a basic taste produced by the synthesis of tea tannins, caffeine and anthocyanins.
The astringency of tea is due to the astringent feeling on the skin produced by tea tannins, polyphenols and other compounds.
Neither bitter nor astringent is not tea, mainly because caffeine, tea polyphenols, amino acids, etc. are the main components of tea. The main component of tea polyphenols is tea tannins. When the bitterness and astringency of the tea melt away, the astringency will show a feeling of saliva. This is the embodiment of rich tea tannins.
So, from this perspective, tea is naturally bitter.
Then why are some teas neither bitter nor astringent?
Judging from the drinking experience, some teas are really neither bitter nor astringent, but rather sweet. It is the ancient tree tea from certain hilltops. After drinking, not only will there be no hunger, but also a feeling of fullness. The reason is that it contains rich and varied substances, not bitter or astringent, but it contains more polysaccharides or amino acids, overshadowing the limelight of tea tannins.
Bitterness does not mean that the quality of the tea is poor.
But you have to learn to judge.
After the bitterness of tea, there will be two different situations. The first is that the bitterness will be affected quickly, and the second is that the bitterness will not disappear after a long time.
