Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea
Toasted seeds, sweet grass and green bean from a bud-free green tea: single leaves, flat as melon seeds.
Lu'an Guapian, or melon seed tea, is the green tea made only from single leaves, with no buds and no stems.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 28 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 11.7 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
Related reading
| Brewing method | Glass Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Single Flat Leaf |
| Water temperature | 176°F / 80°C |
| Target brew time | 2:00-3:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf green tea
- 240 g filtered water at 80°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 2.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 80°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 2:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
How strong is it?
We list about 28 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Look at the leaf
Each Guapian leaf is a single flat blade with no stem and no bud. Look for even, glossy leaves of similar size, and expect no needles or twigs in the bag.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Lu'an Guapian, or melon seed tea, is the green tea made only from single leaves, with no buds and no stems. Its flat, glossy leaves are baked over charcoal to a clean, gently sweet cup of toasted seed, sweet grass, green bean and a mineral hint. Brewed in a glass teapot at 80°C.
Origin & Story
Most Chinese green teas are prized for their buds. Lu'an Guapian does the opposite. The buds are left on the bush and only single mature leaves are picked, the second or third leaf on a branch, with the stem taken away. What is left is a flat, oval leaf that looks like a melon seed, which is where the name comes from: gua pian means melon seed slices.
The leaves are picked around Grain Rain, in late April, once they have grown to size. They are pan-fired and shaped to stop oxidation, then baked over charcoal, which makes Guapian a baked green tea with a different character from steamed or only pan-fired teas such as Longjing.
In the cup it is clean and warm: toasted seed, sweet grass, a hint of green bean and a mineral finish, in a light green liquor. The baked edge is a pleasant surprise if you expect a fresh, grassy green tea. With no buds to show off, the beauty is in the leaf itself, an even, glossy, flat blade.
Use water at 80 to 85°C in a glass or porcelain vessel, about 3 g of leaf for 240 ml, and steep for two to three minutes. The leaf can be infused three or four times.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 68/100 |
| Acidity | 26/100 |
| Bitterness | 20/100 |
| Body | 46/100 |
| Aroma | 86/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 28 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea?
Target 80°C (176°F).
How long should Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea be extracted?
Timing: 2:00-3:00. Method: Glass Teapot. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Single Flat Leaf.
What does Guapian mean?
It means melon seed slices. The name comes from the shape of the processed leaf, which is flat and oval like a melon seed.
Why is Guapian made without buds?
It is made from single mature leaves, the second or third leaf on a branch, with the bud passed over and the stem removed. That is what makes it unusual among Chinese green teas, most of which are made from buds or from buds with leaves.
Who should avoid Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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