Photo: Peony Tea Shop |
Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, deep green, needle-like
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: pale greenish gold
This green tea was exquisitely delicate. The taste was smooth, sweet and almost floral. It wasn’t vegetal in the way that you would usually expect from a green tea. There was no bitterness or astringency. I was reminded of fresh sugar snap peas. This a tea that you really have to take your time with. Put your nose in the gaiwan and inhale deeply, play with the leaves and let it linger in your palate between sips. You’ll miss out on so much of the nuance of this tea if you rush through and gulp instead of slowly sipping. If you have trouble tasting it at first, let the tea cool a bit and give it another go. My second infusion was somewhat fuller bodied but just as enjoyable. It developed a slight fruity note that became more pronounced on the third steeping. Maofeng is one my favorite types of green tea but its one that I often forget about until I taste a quality one like this. +Peony Tea S. is fast becoming one of my go to choices for Chinese teas and this Huagnshan Maofeng is a great example of why that is.
You can find out more about this tea here.