Mao Jian Tea Estate, China
This month we’re visiting the Hunan in Xiyang, China. Small producers based in the Bai Yun mountains, in the East of the country, have clubbed together to make this amazing Mao Jian green tea!
China is synonymous with tea - there is a reason the phrase ‘all the tea in China’ has been coined. Contributing to over a third of the World’s tea crop, for the Chinese, tea is so much more than just a beverage, it’s a whole culture.
Take for example the Gong Fu Tea Ceremony. A ritual that literally translates to ‘tea-making with skill’. Our very own Greg and Scott were privileged enough to be part of such a ceremony when they visited China earlier this year. Tea ceremonies are even incorporated into Chinese weddings - now that is a dedication to tea!
This month’s Discover tea, Mao Jian, is a sweet and floral green. There is an honesty in its flavour, reflecting the stress the tea bush goes through, due to the winter snows and altitude. As a result of the climate and temperatures the tea bush is exposed to, the season for the perfect Mao Jian tea is short, with the perfect crop coming from early spring.
Needle-like in appearance, and made from only the buds, Mao Jian leaves are commonly known as ‘hairy tips’ due to their appearance, the downy hairs (Mao) are what gives the tea its name.
Why we love Mao Jian?
This Mao Jian is super fresh and packed full of flavour. Produced by smallholders in the Bai Yun mountains, you can almost taste the Chinese air! It is a light, sweet cup, with a gentle floral aroma and a sappy freshness.
Location: Hunan, Xinyang, China
Country: China
Capital City: Beijing
Coordinates: 23°11’00.5”N 113°17’43.9”E
Elevation: 750m above sea level
Soil type: Yellow-black sandy loam
Manufacture: Pan-roasted Green
Tea Season: Spring crop Av temp: 17°C
Estate size: Average farm size 8 acres
FACTS
> Half of all pigs on earth live in China.
> POPULATION: 1,393,783,836
> All of China’s railway's lines could loop around the earth twice!
> China is about the same size as the continental USA but it only has one official time zone. Continental USA has four.
MAO JIAN IS AVAILABLE ON OUR TEASHOP >>