Huangshan Mao Feng Tea
The most famous of all of the Mao Feng Teas, Huangshan Mao Feng Tea has been produced since the mid Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The tea is produced in Anhui Province near Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain. The mountain is truly one of the most spectacular places on earth. It is said that after visiting Huangshan Mountain, there is no point in visiting any other mountain. This combined with the wonderful Huangshan Mao Feng Tea make this a fantastic destination. The literal English translation for Mao Feng is Fur, or Hair Peak. The name derives from the small white hairs which cover the leaves, and the shape of the leaves, which resemble a mountain's peak. The best tea is picked in the early spring, before the Qing Ming Festival. The tea farmers pick only the bud and one leaf next to the bud. In Chinese it is said that the leaves resemble orchid buds which are just opening. The leaves of Maofeng tea have a light yellow color. Its liquid has a tint of apricot yellow. The teas fragrance and aroma are long lasting and the leaves can be brewed five or six times.
Legends of Huangshan Mao Feng Tea
According to legend, it was said that during the Ming Dynasty a young scholar fell and a beautiful women fell in. A local wealthy landowner saw the woman working in the fields and wanted her for himself. The land owner had much money and power and forced the girl's parents to make their daughter marry him. On the night before the wedding, the young woman escaped and snuck back to the house of the young scholar only to find that he had been killed by the landowner's cronies. She went to his grave and cried uncontrollably until she became the rain. The scholar's body became a tea tree. It is said that this is why the area where Huangshan Mao Feng Tea is grown is always moist and humid and that the tea trees are lush all year round.
Fake Teas
There are many varieties of Maofeng Tea and many times people try to sell other Mao Feng Teas as Huangshan Mao Feng. It is actually not too difficult to tell the real from the fake. The real tea has a very long lasting fragrance and aroma with a slightly floral scent, while the others do not. The flavors of the tea should swirl around your mouth and delight the senses.
Visit our other Chinese Tea variety pages:
Bi Luo Chun Tea
,
Dragon Well Tea
,
Liu An Gua Pian Tea
,
Xin Yang Mao Jian Tea
,
Tai Ping Hou Kui Tea
,
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