Pluck (Bud and Leaf Standard)
The pluck, or plucking standard, describes how much of each shoot is harvested, such as a single bud, a bud and one leaf, or a bud and two leaves.
Definition
Plucking is harvesting the tea shoot, and the plucking standard defines which part of the shoot goes into the basket. The classic fine pluck is two leaves and a bud, the standard behind most quality orthodox black and green tea. An imperial or very fine pluck takes only the bud or the bud and one leaf. Coarser plucking takes three or more leaves, and mature leaf is used for some teas on purpose. The standard affects flavor and price. Buds and the first leaf contain the highest concentration of caffeine, amino acids and catechins, and the most aroma. Lower, older leaves have more fiber and less of these compounds, giving a flatter, coarser cup. A finer pluck also means lower yield and more labor per kilogram. Chinese terms describe the same thing: dan ya (单芽, single bud), yi ya yi ye (一芽一叶, one bud, one leaf), and yi ya er ye (一芽二叶, one bud, two leaves). Silver Needle is bud only. Longjing grades often specify bud and one leaf. Oolongs are the exception: Tieguanyin and Wuyi teas are picked when the shoot has opened (kai mian, 开面), taking three or four more mature leaves, because their style needs leaf that can survive bruising and long roasting.
In Depth
Plucking rounds are repeated every few days to a week or more during a flush, depending on growth, so that shoots are taken at the right size. In Japan most commercial tea is harvested by machine, which cuts a uniform layer off the bush; hand-picked tea is reserved for high-end teas.
The easiest way to check the pluck is to look at the wet leaf after brewing. Spread a few sets on a plate and count buds and leaves. Whole, matched sets of bud plus one or two leaves mean careful hand plucking.
Finer is not always better. A bud-only tea is sweeter and lighter but can lack depth; many tasters prefer two leaves and a bud for black tea. Use the standard that fits the style.
See Also
- Tea Harvesting
- Hand vs. Machine Plucking
- Tea Grading