Huangshan Mao Feng黄山毛峰

Huangshan Mao Feng is a Mao Feng green tea from Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), Anhui, China. Brew it at 85°C with 4g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 6 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. No rinse needed.

Tasting notes

There's a reason people use Huangshan Mao Feng as a benchmark — it sits at a point where a lot of things balance without any of them shouting. The downy buds release a soft, almost pear-blossom aroma over the cup before you even sip, and the first mouthful is all silk: snap pea, young green bean, a slow sweetness that keeps coming back. What you won't find is any bite. Brewed right, there's no astringency to fight, no grassy burn, nothing to hide. That softness is also its weakness — overheat the water and the whole thing deflates into something flat and slightly steamed-vegetable. Stay at 85°C, keep the first steep short, and let the second and third run a touch longer as the downy buds fully open. A glass gaiwan is worth it here. The slow unfurling of the buds is part of the experience, and the liquor is so pale it's easy to underbrew if you trust your eyes instead of the clock.

Flavor profile

One of China's most celebrated green teas. The leaves, covered in silvery down, brew into a pale green-gold liquor with a gentle floral aroma suggesting orchard blossoms. The taste is elegant and silky with notes of green bean and fresh pea, finishing with a lingering sweetness and no bitterness. A benchmark for what refined Chinese green tea can be.

Terroir

High-altitude cloud forest (~800-1800m), heavy mist, granite-derived acidic soil

Cultivar: Huangshan Dayezhong (large-leaf) and local small-leaf cultivars

Brewing

1. Steep 1: 15 seconds
2. Steep 2: 15 seconds
3. Steep 3: 20 seconds
4. Steep 4: 30 seconds
5. Steep 5: 45 seconds
6. Steep 6: 60 seconds

The fine downy buds are delicate — keep water at 85°C or below. A glass gaiwan lets you watch the leaves slowly unfurl.

Aroma & taste

Processing

• pan-fired
• hand-shaped

Sources

• https://pathofcha.com/blogs/all-about-tea/chinese-green-tea-huang-shan-mao-feng
• https://meileaf.com/tea/fur-peak-supreme/
• https://sevencups.com/shop/premium-huang-shan-mao-feng/
• https://verdanttea.com/qimen-huangshan-maofeng-green-tea
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huangshan_Maofeng