Tai Ping Hou Kui3CTP Harvest: 15.04.2023
Origin: China / Anhui / Huangshan / Sanhe
Height: 400 m.a.s.l
Tea plant varietal: Shi Da Cha
A genuine and original Taiping Houkui from Houkeng, produced using the modern method, i.e. the leaves are pressed into flat long shapes. This process is carefully done so that the leaves don't become too flat; individual leaves are still identifiable.Tai Ping Hou Kui, King Ape (from) the Taiping (Lake), is a very beautifully crafted flat form tea (Bianxingcha) with very large leaves that were pressed into shape. Taiping Houkui is considered to be one of the classic Chinese green teas, although the first mention of him appears only after 1900, when the improved techniques made more beautiful and better qualities possible. The very long leaves of the Shidacha variety are fired in the wok and carefully pulled apart and pressed. Nowadays on the market one can also find light green leaves machine-processed resulting in very flat and long.
Character:
Creamy-soft, a wunderful and intense infusion unfolds: Umami, aromatic and sweet. It reminds of a light soup made of fresh green vegetables.
Category:
Bian Xing Cha (incl. Long Jing) Bian Xing Cha, literally flat form tea, are green teas with pressed, flat leaves. Usually the bud and two leaves are plucked for this tea. The leaves typical flat form comes from pressing the tea leaves against the hot wok's wall by hand, or by machine. For the most part, Bian Xing Cha are being sold as Long Jing. Genuine Long Jing come from the region around the Xi Hu (West-lake), in the west of Hangzhou (Zhejiang province) and are called Xi Hu Long Jing. Great quality teas come from the three villages Wengjiashan, Longjing and Meijiawu and are called Long Jing Shi Feng, Dragon Well Tea from the Lion's Peak. The Long Jing type of tea is also being produced in other regions of China and unfortunately sold as original Long Jing. Other famous Bian Xing Cha come from the Yellow Mountains Huangshan: the Ding Gu Da Fang from She (where the flat form was invented) and the exquisite Tai Ping Hou Kui, original from the villages of Houkeng and Hougang. Bian Xing Cha are light and sweet with a nutty aroma and the very clear and typical slightly bitter notes of green tea.
