This tea is one of the most famous teas in China. The tea is grown near Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), which is home to many excellent and renowned varieties of Green Tea. Huangshan Mao Feng Tea in English translation means "Yellow Mountain Fur Peak" which is due to the tiny white hairs that coat the leaves and the distinctive shape of the processed tea leaves, which remind people of a mountain peak.
This is a green tea of exceptional flavor. I've sampled several teas from this Chinese firm and they have all been superb. The leaves have a deep emerald green color and a slightly sweet vegetal aroma. I brewed a teaspoon of leaves in the cup pouring 8 oz. of water over them that had been heated to around 175 degrees (allowing freshly boiled water to cool for several minutes before pouring). Steeping time varied from 3-5 minutes over three separate brewing samples.
Each sample was stronger than the last with greater depth in flavor and aroma. Each sample was also slightly more astringent than the one before, so there is a trade-off when engaging in increased steeping times. Increased depth of flavor will cost a slight increase in bitterness. Four minutes of steeping time seems to be the sweet spot and the usual length of time that I now use. Tasting notes for this tea include heather, honey mead, sweet grass and lemon balm. It has a refreshing vegetal sweetness and an earthy and floral finish reminiscent of herbs like lemongrass and bee balm.
Because of the unique and flavorful properties of this green tea, it is best to drink it straight without any additions that might alter its taste. I find that drinking it before the tea has an opportunity to cool too much, so that there is enough residual heat to enjoy both its sweet, herbal aroma and its complex green tea flavor, heightens the enjoyment of this distinctive green tea. When it cools, the tea begins to become more astringent and re-heating it will only make it more so.
This is one of the great green teas: even those who avoid green teas may find this one refreshingly sweet and flavorful. Huangshan Mao Feng green tea and Japanese Gyokuro are similar in that they both possess unusually complex flavors and a delightful vegetal sweetness. Their method of production is very different but they boast similarly excellent properties. They are my two favorite green teas and I strongly recommend both of them. I recommend you start here, with Huangshan Mao Feng green tea because it is both superb and a bit more reasonably priced.
