Taiping Houkui Tea

Taiping Houkui tea is one of China's famous green teas, produced on the banks of Taiping Lake in the Huangshan District of Huangshan City, Anhui Province. The history of Taiping Houkui can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that in the late Qing Dynasty, a tea farmer in Houkeng Village, Taiping County (now Huangshan District, Huangshan City) carefully selected the best young buds from the tea bush in order to improve the quality and appearance of the tea. Taiping Houkui is not only a type of tea but also an important part of Chinese tea culture. The production techniques of Taiping Houkui have been included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage, which is not only a recognition of its traditional craftsmanship but also an affirmation of its cultural value.

Taiping Houkui Tea Details:

Product Name: Taiping Houkui
Ingredients: high mountain raw leaves
Production Process: traditional process
Shape: strip
Product: Huangshan, Anhui, China
Net Content: 150 g
Shelf Life: 540 days
Storage: ventilated, cool, dry, no odours

Taiping Houkuai Tea Picking:

Our Taiping Houkuai picking usually takes place around 20 April. This is a period of moderate temperatures, when the tea bush shoots grow vigorously and the tea leaves are of the best quality. Taiping Houkuai is picked by hand to ensure the integrity and freshness of the tea leaves. Handpicking avoids the damage that can be caused by mechanical picking. The leaves are picked gently to avoid damage or breakage. We choose sunny days for picking, avoiding rainy days, as high humidity can affect the quality of the tea. Usually, picking is done in the morning or evening, when the temperature is lower and the humidity moderate, which is conducive to maintaining the freshness of the tea. Through these strict picking times and standards, Taiping Houkui is able to maintain its unique quality characteristics, including a flat and straight appearance, a pale green colour, an elegant and lasting aroma, and a fresh and mellow taste.

Taiping Houkui Tea Production Process:

Air-drying: After being picked, the fresh leaves need to be spread out in a well-ventilated place to remove excess moisture and maintain the freshness of the tea.
Fixation: Use a 70 cm diameter barrel with smooth, clean walls. Use charcoal as fuel to ensure a stable temperature. The temperature should be around 110°C, and 75–100 g of leaves should be added per batch for 2–3 minutes. Before the end of the fixation process, the leaves should be properly arranged. The fixation leaves should be intact, with the tips of the leaves connected to the stems, naturally straight, and the leaf surface stretched out.

Roasting: Use one fixation pot with four baskets. The roasting temperatures are 100℃, 90℃, 80℃, and 70℃ in that order. After spreading the fixation leaves on the top of the roaster, lightly tap the top of the roaster to make the leaves spread evenly and lie flat. After losing appropriate water, turn them over for the second roasting. First spread the buds and leaves evenly, and then gently press the tea leaves with your hands to make the leaves lie flat and hug the buds with an upright appearance. The temperature for the third drying should be slightly lower. Still, the leaves should be flattened while drying. When it comes to the fourth drying, the leaves should be dry enough that they can no longer be flattened. When they are 60–70% dry, they should be spread out to cool.
Sufficient drying: Use about 250 g of leaves, a fire temperature of about 70°C, and a brocade mat to flatten the leaves while drying to fix their shape. After 5-6 turns and about 90% dryness, the leaves should be spread out to cool.

Second roasting: Also known as "making the tea old", the amount of tea leaves is about 1900 grams. The fire temperature is about 60°C, and the leaves are turned while roasting. Avoid pressing. After it is fully dried, pack it in a cylinder while it is still hot. Place a bamboo leaf in the cylinder to enhance the aroma of the tea. After the tea cools, seal it with a lid.

How to Brew Taiping Houkui Tea:

The method of brewing Taiping Houkui tea is very important. The correct brewing method can maximise its unique aroma and flavour. Here are some detailed steps and tips:

1. Choose tea set: Use a transparent glass cup or a white porcelain-covered bowl so that you can better appreciate the colour and shape of the Taiping Houkui.
   Water temperature: Use water at a temperature of around 80-85°C. Taiping Houkui is a green tea, and a water temperature that is too high will destroy the nutrients in the tea leaves and affect the taste.
2. Water quality: Use purified or filtered water, and avoid using tap water that contains impurities, to ensure that the tea broth is clear and pure.
3. Preheat the tea set: First, use hot water to preheat the tea set, rinse the inside and outside of the tea set, and then pour away the water. This step can increase the temperature of the tea set and make it easier for the tea leaves to unfold.
4. Add the tea leaves: Add the right amount of Taiping Houkui tea leaves, generally about 3–5 g of tea leaves per 150 ml of water. Gently place the tea leaves in the tea set.
   Fill with water: Slowly fill the tea set with water at a temperature of 80–85°C, avoiding direct impact on the tea leaves. Fill the tea set to 70% of its capacity.
5. Steep: Let the tea leaves steep in the water for about 1–2 minutes. Taiping Houkuai tea leaves are relatively tender, so the steeping time should not be too long to avoid the tea broth being too strong.
6. Drink: Pour the tea broth into a teacup and enjoy slowly. The tea broth of Taiping Houkuai is bright green in colour, with an elegant and lasting aroma and a fresh and mellow taste.

Taiping Houkui Tea Characteristics:

Appearance: The dry tea leaves of Taiping Houkui are flat and straight, with two leaves embracing one bud, resembling a monkey's paw.

Aroma: After brewing, Taiping Houkui tea gives off a strong orchid fragrance, with an elegant and lasting aroma that is unforgettable.

Soup colour: The tea soup is bright and light green in colour, clear and translucent, with no turbidity.

Taste: Take a sip of the tea and enjoy its fresh, mellow flavour and aftertaste.

Tea leaves: The tea leaves after brewing are a bright green colour, even and soft.

Taiping Houkuai Tea Benefits:

Refreshes the mind: Taiping Houkuai contains the right amount of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system, improves mental concentration, relieves fatigue, and makes you more alert.

Lower blood sugar: Taiping Houkui contains the right amount of caffeine, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and has a certain adjuvant therapeutic effect on diabetics.

Lower fat and lose weight: Tea polyphenols and caffeine can help speed up metabolism, promote fat breakdown, and help lower blood lipid and cholesterol levels, thereby playing a role in weight loss and preventing obesity.

Improve sleep: Taiping Houkui contains theanine, which, when consumed in moderation during the day, can help improve the quality of sleep at night. Theanine has a sedative effect and helps to relax the body and mind.