Yunnan Mao Feng Green Tea

-Growing Region: Pu-Erh (Formerly Simao) Prefecture, Yunnan
Description:

Mao Feng translates literally as “Downy Peak,” and it is one of China’s most famous green teas, coming from Anhui province. Due to the popularity of Mao Feng style teas, producers from other parts of China make this style of tea and can sell it at a fraction of the cost of the ones from Anhui. That is the case for this tea. It was grown and processed in Yunnan and is referred to as Mao Feng simply because it has the distinctive long twisting leaves.

The materials used to make this tea are a mixture of hand picked one leaf/one bud and two leaf/one bud complexes. The leaves are simply twisted during processing to preserve the whole leaves and buds. When steeped, the liquor of this tea is pale green in appearance, and it tastes very fresh, green, and a bit nutty/sweet. The flavor is more assertive than other green teas, but I find it to be extremely smooth and pleasant.

Like other green teas, this one should be steeped at about 175 F (80 C) in order to avoid extracting astringent flavor compounds or scalding the leaves. I like to steep this tea Gongfu style in a Gaiwan, and if you are careful with water temperature it can be infused several times. I also like to just put a small handful of leaves into a glass and add hot water to it throughout the day…It is amazing how much enjoyment I can get out of this tea! Our Yunnan Mao Feng is perfectly suited for steeping in the western manner as well.

3 Tasting Notes

Doulton

This is a very buttery and mild green tea. It’s utterly delicious, however. The liquid is medium yellow and the taste is vegetal but not as strongly so as some green teas. Overall, I think that this would make a great introduction to green teas for those who hesitate: it’s got some veggie but not too much; it’s got quite a bit of butter, and it’s not at all fishy. Overall, it’s delicate and discreet, but not a simpering wallflower.

I would most certainly consider this to be a go-to green tea and will invest in a larger size.

2010-04-25 17:31:38 -0400

195 °F / 90 °C

2 min 45 sec

I Like This

13 likes

1 comment

teaddict 2 tasting notes

This is a favorite green tea. There is a slightly peachy/fruity/camphor note in this tea that is distinct from the nuttier edge of a Dragon Well. Also, this is a particularly mellow tea. It is possible to find bitterness in it, but you really have to try: very hot water or very long steeps or way concentrated. And it has amazing ‘legs’ for a green tea—I just keep going for 8 or 10 infusions.

I brew this one with a wide range of conditions: the leaves are so light and loose that it’s hard to eyeball accurately, but it’s so forgiving that I’m not often motivated to measure it. Anything from 0.5-1 grams of tea per ounce/30mL water, water from 160-180 degrees, steep time 15 seconds (for high concentration/hotter water/early steeps) to more than a minute (lower concentration/cooler water/later steeps). Its a rare green tea that even holds up well with brew-in-advance hold-all-day in the thermos.

2010-07-04 18:16:26 -0400

170 °F / 76 °C

0 min 30 sec

I Like This

5 likes

0 comments