This is a perfect yellow tea — pure, delicate, intense, light. I find that with yellow teas I have to experiment with the amount of tea per cup. I just made it with two tablespoons instead of one, and I found it better with that quantity than with one. I will probably experiment with more and less to find what’s right for me. Mariage Freres recommends steeping it at 170 degrees.
Yin Zhen Yellow Tea
Produced on the island of Junshan in the middle of Lake Gongting, which is covered with small, verdant mountains dotted with Buddhist temples and prayer huts, this exceptional tea grows amidst bamboo at the foot of a pure waterfall. Its production begins a few days prior to April 20th, but the first picking is reserved for this yellow tea. It takes 50,000 young buds to make one kilogram of tea. The operations take place during 72 hours in order to let the leaves ferment lightly at a relatively low temperature, which preserves their natural fragrance. Composed of only the brightest golden yellow buds that are still pale green inside, the fresh fragrant liquor, apricot in colour, is sweet, pure, and refreshing in an extraordinary way that the most demanding tea-lovers will appreciate.
PREPARATION ADVICE FOR 1 CUP :
Amount of tea leaves: 5g
Best water temperature: 75 °C
Infusion time: 5 min
