We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“The leaves are remarkably uniform and all sank to the bottom of the gaiwan. I have been mostly drinking Japanese (steamed) green teas and am just starting to explore Chinese greens so will not say...” Read full tasting note
“This a review of the 2016, yet it doesn’t look like a tea that drastically changes. A remarkably complex and satisfying green tea. The dry leaves smell of orchids, honey and hay. The mouth feel is...” Read full tasting note
Xinyang Mao Jian (信阳毛尖) is a famous and ancient green tea produced in Xinyang township of Henan Province. It’s one of China’s Top 10 Famous Teas (十大名茶) and has a history of more than 2300 years. Mao Jian means furry tips. The tea is small and needle like, green with white furry strips on the inner side of the leaf.
The taste is classically small leaf green tea with sweet and umami taste, the aroma is grass and pine, the feeling in the mouth is thick and pungent. Our Imperial Grade offering is harvested during the first flush of Spring in late March during a brief period after the freezing temperatures of early spring have abated, (but before the rains) when the weather is just beginning to warm up!
Origin: Qinling Mountain, Xinyang Township, Henan Province
Company description not available.
The leaves are remarkably uniform and all sank to the bottom of the gaiwan. I have been mostly drinking Japanese (steamed) green teas and am just starting to explore Chinese greens so will not say much more. My first impression of all Chinese greens is the roasted flavor. I look forward to becoming more familiar with this tea and Chinese greens in general.
This a review of the 2016, yet it doesn’t look like a tea that drastically changes. A remarkably complex and satisfying green tea. The dry leaves smell of orchids, honey and hay. The mouth feel is full with buttery smoothness and the tea finishes with hints of pine sap. This tea can hold up to hotter temperatures and longer steeps without developing strong bitter notes. Also a great tea to brew if your looking to get tea drunk.
BREWING RATIOS, TIMES AND TEMPERATURES
WASH
90 C (194 F) for 1 to 3 seconds
CHINESE STYLE
3.5 g/100 ml (1/2 cup) 90 C (194 F)
Steep: one 15 seconds, two 18 seconds, three 21 seconds, four 24 seconds, five 27 seconds
WESTERN STYLE
1 Tbsp/1 cup (2 g/240 ml) 194 F (90 C)
Steep: one 2 minutes, second 3 minutes
SCORING
94/100 or 4 STARS
NAME
Imperial Xinyang Mao Jian Green Tea of Henan * Spring 2016
(Furry Tips)
PRODUCTION
Spring 2016
VARIETAL
Mao Jian
LOCATION
Xinyang Township Village, Henan Province, China
PICKING AND PROCESSING
First flush (first two leaves and bud)
ELEVATION
89 meters (292 ft.)
DRY LEAF APPEARANCE
Small, straight, slightly twisted, shiny, sage white/dark olive with fine downy hairs
DRY LEAF AROMAS
Orchid, grass and honey
WET LEAF AROMAS
Honey, orchid and hay (pine develops with further steeps)
TEA COLOR
Pale lemon yellow, white downy fluff floating on top
MOUTH FEEL
butter, silk, smooth with a refreshing finishing
TEA FLAVORS
Pine and camphor
EMPTY CUP AROMA
Citrus/pine sap
WET LEAF APPEARANCE
Small curled lime green leaves
BODY FEEL / CHA QI
Concentrated in the brain, lots of catechins in this tea!
