Mao Jian
Tasting notes: green beans, chestnut, dragon fruit
Mao Jian is a prized Chinese green tea known for its slender, twisted leaves and vibrant, fresh flavor. Sourced from high-altitude tea gardens, this tea is crafted from tender, early spring leaves, carefully handpicked to preserve their fine quality.
When brewed, Mao Jian has a pale green infusion with a fresh aroma and clean flavor. Its light astringency provides a refreshing finish, making it an ideal tea for those who appreciate a balance of crispness and subtle complexity.
Tea character
Leaf aroma
green melon, pine needles
Cup aroma
sweet butter toast, melon, hay
Flavor
green beans, chestnut, dragon fruit
Tea story
This hand-picked first flush tea was harvested in Xin Yang, Henan Province, where tea production looks back to 2000 years of history. This Mao Jian was grown in Che Yun Shan, one of the mountains around the southern part of Xin Yang. Its extraordinarily lush green color is thanks to the deep fog lingering on the mountain. Xin Yang Mao Jian leaves are usually picked around Gu Yu - Grain Rain - time (around April 20), but this tea was picked earlier, before the leaves were fully open, in mid-March.
The tea leaves are small and needle-like, and as the name "Mao Jian" suggests, there are small furry tips on the inner side of them.
It is aromatic with a sweet toasty-buttery and fruity scent. The liquor is silky and clear, and has an intriguing combination of floral and nutty - specifically walnutty - notes. The sweetness has a toasty, black sugary edge to it. After 5-6 steeps, this tea still performs well.
Tea Region | Henan, China
Tea tree | Camellia sinensis sinensis
Cultivar | Qin Ling Qunti
Harvest | Spring, 2024
Picking & processing | One bud, one leaf
Chilled soba noodles
The tea’s clean, refreshing finish complements the subtle flavors of soba, with a slight astringency to balance the dish’s savory notes.
Grilled chicken with lemon
The citrusy tang of the lemon and the smoky grilled chicken flavors pair harmoniously with Mao Jian’s fresh and light flavor profile.
Japanese cucumber salad
The crisp cucumber matches the tea’s fresh, green notes, creating a light, refreshing pairing ideal for warmer days.