As the weather warms along the coast of southeastern China, some of the first teas to reach the market are a number of cultivars known as Mao Feng. These early greens come in a variety of styles – leaves light to dark green, long and short, curled and wiry, thick and thin with white and silver buds - offering a range of spring aromas and flavors. This cultivar, depending where it is grown – north, south, east or west slope – combined with years of cultivation and method of processing - has developed into widely consumed everyday style green. One of our favorites for aroma and taste is Spring Blossom. A visual treat of wiry light-green, curled leaves splashed with white buds. Its aromas compel one to have a taste. Softly vegetal, Spring Blossom is an excellent value tea, drinkable most any time. Harvest date is Pre-Qing Ming, April 2024. Lot #4.
Lot Notes. Spring Blossom has a very distinct “toasty” aroma developed in the firing of its leaves. Lot offers a consistent & large leaf shape. The appearance is a very pleasing green. Deft processing tempered some of stronger vegetal tendencies, this lot offers a pleasing sweet & clear liquor.
Tea Facts. Grown at an elevation of about 700 meters, small farm, this tea was harvested in the first week of April - a "before the rain" lot. Spring Blossom is a Mao Feng cultivar, in this instance, it does not refer to the quality of the leaf. It is basket fired at higher temperatures.
Tasting Notes. Offers very pleasing toasted, nutty and vegetal notes to the palate, with hints of chestnut. The higher fire processing pushes this tea to a clean, toasted flavor with a sweet finish. Being a green tea, it has very light vegetal notes with little or no astringency. This tea is an excellent choice as an everyday green and it goes well with food.
Brewing Suggestions. Use 3 grams or a tablespoon of leaf for 6-8 ounces. Water temperature is best at 195 degrees F. Steep for 2-2.5 minutes to yield a flavorful cup with its range of spring notes. This tea can be steeped for a longer period if more body is desired. Will offer multiple steeps.