Xinyang maojian is a type of green tea from Henan Province in China. The tea plantations are scattered across the mountainous regions with an average altitude of 500 to 800 meters. Xinyang maojian has a shorter harvest than teas from Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian Provinces due to the cooler climate in Henan. Every winter, the mountains are covered by snow. Most of the plants have withered while Xinyang maojian tea trees firmly withstand the harsh weather, gaining it the reputation of one of China’s toughest teas.
Xinyang Maojian tea is one of the most famous traditional teas, and also one of the most well-known local special products of Henan. Because of its narrow leaves with fine white hairs and sharp tips, it was named Maojian, literally meaning pale colored tips. The tea is characterized by its bright green, sweet, long lasting fragrance, which smells like cooked Chinese chestnut.
The tea has been famous around the world for a long time. As early as 1915, it won an award as the champion in the Panama Pacific International Exposition. In 1959, it was named as one of the ten most famous teas in China. In 1982, 1986, and 1990, it was rated as the most famous tea in the country by the Commerce Department. In 1985, it won the silver prize of the National Quality Award. In 1990, it won the champion rank of the National Quality Award. And it won the champion rank in the Kunming International Horticultural Exposition in 1999.
Xinyang Maojian is one of the few teas from Central China, supposedly has a history of over 2,000 years and was mentioned in Lu Yu’s “The Classic of Tea” written during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
The tea leaves are small and roundish, covered by a layer of white coat. Once brewed, the liquid has an intense green color. The fragrance is lingering, flavor robust. One might even find it bitter during the first brew, but the flavor eases and transforms into a mild sweetness with each subsequent brew.
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