Xin Yang Mao Jian

Xin Yang Mao Jian is an orthodox green tea, grown in Xin Yang, a city in Hunan Province, China. It is one China's Ten Famous Teas - a list comprising their most revered tea varieties, as well as being a speciality of Hunan Province. It has a history dating back 2300 years.

Xin Yang is a mountainous region with cloudy and damp conditions throughout most of the year. The soil there is sandy and rocky which supply rich minerals for tea growth, with dense forestry covering the terrain. It is an ideal place for growing good quality teas such as this.

The harvest season for Mao Jian tea is in spring and fall each year, with the best quality tea coming from leaves that are harvested in mid-April (such as the variety that we have sourced here). The gardens often demand 2-3 times the price for this April harvest tea due to its superior quality. 50,000 picked buds will produce a mere 500 grams of ready to drink tea. After picking, the leaves of Xin Yang Mao Jian are rolled and pan fried, creating the needle-like look of the leaves.

Visually, the tea leaves are thin, evenly shaped and delicate. They have a dark green colour, with accents of silvery white from the fresh bud content in the pickings. The taste is complex, but balanced. It has a significantly floral and nutty aroma, with a liquor that has a thick and juicy profile.

It's name breaks down as follows: Xinyang" (信阳) is for Xin Yang city in Henan, China that produces this variety of tea. "Mao Jian" (毛尖) are the words that describe the shape of the tea. "Mao" (毛) refers to the tiny fuzz in the cup when brewed and "Jian" (尖) refers to shape the leaves: needle like, whole young leaves.

 WESTERN BREWING STYLE 

GONGFU BREWING STYLE