Hui gan (回甘, huígān)
Hui gan (回甘), often translated as “returning sweetness”, is a sweet sensation that appears in a tea’s aftertaste.
The term describes sweetness that lingers or emerges after a sip. It may be easier to notice after bitterness, though the two do not always follow that sequence. The flavour and timing vary.
Take a small sip of tea at a comfortable temperature and pause before the next. Describe what remains in your own words. Increased salivation is called sheng jin: a different sensation, though the two may accompany each other.
Hui gan is one part of a tasting. Its strength and duration do not prove tree age, purity of the leaves or absence of pesticides. Consider the whole cup and your own preferences, and use comparable brewing conditions when comparing teas.
Related teas
Chinese tea glossary