Grape

The grape (putao, 葡萄) came to China along the Silk Road more than two thousand years ago and settled in the north-west: Xinjiang and Turpan are still the country’s grape land, famous for the sweetest raisins.

Taste and aroma in tea

In the Chinese tea classics the grape is a newcomer from modern blends — and that is its honest charm: it claims no ancient pedigree, but it works beautifully in the cup. A grape note gives green tea a fresh berry sweetness with a light tang, making the blend bright and summery. Grape sounds especially good next to floral aromas such as jasmine: the flowers carry the top note, the berry fills the juicy middle.

In the Chinese tradition

Though grapes reached the teapot only recently, they have long been at home in Chinese culture: a bunch of grapes stands for abundance and a large family, a frequent motif on porcelain and carved wood. Turpan grapes are sung about in folk songs, and the grape arbour is a classic of the Uyghur courtyard.

How to brew

Green-based grape blends like soft water at 80–85 °C and short steeps: the berry sweetness stays fresh and the green leaf never turns bitter. This tea is also excellent iced.