Handmade Tai Ping Hou Kui from the indigenous Tu Zhong cultivar of Huangshan, Anhui, picked in early spring 2026: large, flat, sword-like green tea leaves.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2026 early spring · Green tea · A++++ grade · Handmade, Tu Zhong cultivar · Huangshan, Anhui
- Dry leaf: Very large, flat and straight leaves in a mix of deep forest green and jade, with faint reddish tones along the veins and no white down, as expected of handmade heirloom Hou Kui.
- Liquor: The liquor pours a pale chartreuse-green with crystal clarity.
- Aroma: An orchid fragrance (the "Hou Yun") that is carried into the liquor.
- Taste: The first sips are smooth and velvety, with a natural sweetness. Through the middle infusions the mouthfeel stays thick without astringency, and toward the finish a clean, lasting returning sweetness (hui gan) rises in the throat.
- Best for: improving your tea experience — an heirloom-cultivar Hou Kui for attentive glass brewing. A natural step up for a newcomer to Chinese green tea.
Brewing Guide
- Water: 85–90°C (185–194°F). Avoid a rolling boil.
- Steps:
- Stand about 5g of leaves upright in a pre-warmed tall glass.
- Pour a shallow layer of water (about 2 cm) along the inner wall to wake the leaves.
- Fill the glass to about 80%.
- Watch the straight leaves stand in the water.
- Drink and top up as the glass gets low.
Storage
Keep it sealed and airtight in the refrigerator, away from light, heat and strong-smelling food. Let the bag come to room temperature before opening so no moisture gets in. Shelf life: 18 months.
