Cha Wu Grade Standard — How We Define Tea Quality

What Makes a Tea Grade Higher?

Most tea sellers grade by leaf appearance or price. At ChaWuWarmSun, we grade by sensory experience — specifically, how far the tea sensation travels through your mouth and throat.

We call this Tea Taste Depth of Sensation (茶感): the lingering, gripping feeling that spreads across your palate after each sip. The deeper it reaches, the higher the grade.

Our 3-Dimensional Grading System

Every tea we sell is evaluated on three dimensions:

1. Tea Taste Depth of Sensation (Primary factor — determines the grade)
The spatial coverage of the "Lingering Grip" sensation in your mouth. This is the defining criterion.

2. Supporting Factors (Secondary)
Thickness, intensity, duration, smoothness, and Transformation Speed — how quickly the Lingering Grip transforms into Hui-Gan (Sweet Aftertaste). The faster, the better.

3. Flavor (Descriptive only — does NOT affect grade)
Aroma, sweetness, bitterness, and astringency. These describe the tea's character, not its quality level.

The Grade Tiers

What is "Lingering Grip"?

Lingering Grip (粘着感) is the sensation of the tea clinging to the surfaces of your mouth — not unpleasant astringency, but a positive, velvet-like adherence that signals high tea quality. The higher the grade, the further this grip reaches and the faster it transforms into sweetness.

What is Hui-Gan (Sweet Transformation)?

Hui-Gan (回甘) is the wave of natural sweetness that follows the initial Lingering Grip. In [C] and [B] grade teas it is gentle and gradual. In [S] and [X] grades, it arrives swiftly and powerfully — a hallmark of top-tier Chinese tea craftsmanship.

What is Hou-Yun (Throat Resonance)?

Hou-Yun (喉韵) is the defining characteristic of [S] Grade. Unlike teas that stop at the palate, [S] Grade delivers a deep, lingering sensation that reaches the throat, with a thick, honey-like liquor that coats and warms from within.

Our Brewing Standard for Grading

We evaluate every tea under pressure-test conditions to expose any hidden weaknesses:

• Green / Black / White / Dark teas: 1:50 ratio, 100°C, 5 minutes
• Oolong teas: 1:22 ratio, 100°C, three steepings (2 / 3 / 5 minutes)

If a tea holds its integrity and Hui-Gan sweetness even under these harsh conditions, it earns its grade.

Where to Start?

New to ChaWuWarmSun? We recommend beginning with [A] Grade — it's the entry point into the world of true smooth, full-mouth Chinese tea. Once you experience the Lingering Grip reaching the back of your throat without any harshness, you'll understand what sets our grading apart.

Ready to go deeper? Explore [S] Grade for Hou-Yun Throat Resonance, or challenge yourself with [X] Grade — the pinnacle of Tea Taste Depth of Sensation.