About Green Tip Tea (Xinyang Maojian) 2024

Xinyang Maojian is a well-known Chinese green tea produced in Xinyang City, Henan province. It is made using one bud with one, two or three leaves, according to the grade. The dry tea leaves are straight, thin and evenly shaped, and covered with abundant white fuzz.
Our Xingyang Maojian is Yuqian tea with high grade made from leaves picked before the Grain Rain (19, 20 or 21 April). Temperatures during this period are high, which causes the tea leaves to grow relatively fast; the leaves are also rich in accumulated substances. The taste is normally very fresh with a strong, invigorating aroma and a sweet lingering fragrance.

Appearance & Taste

The dry tea leaves are straight, thin and evenly shaped, and covered with abundant white fuzz.

Main Categories/Different Tastes: The fresh tea leaves are normally classified as spring tea, summer tea and autumn tea, depending on the growing season.

Spring tea

Xinyang Maojian picked in the spring is regarded as having the best quality.

Our Xinyang Maojian is Yuqian tea; it is therefore relatively affordable but still of good quality, and with a stronger taste than the more expensive Mingqian tea (see Green Tea Product 3 for more information).

Chunwei tea

Chunwei tea is picked around the end of the spring. Although by this time the tea tree has already been subjected to several pickings, Chunwei tea still tastes delicious. The tea leaves are slightly roughly shaped. Chunwei tea is normally consumed by local tea planters or lovers of bitter/strong tea. The price is much lower than for the Mingqian and Yuqian teas.

Taste: The taste is sometimes slightly bitter but always with a sweet aftertaste.

Summer tea

Summer tea is picked around the end of June/start of July. As the temperature rises, the tea leaves begin to grow rapidly. The soluble matter inside the leaves is reduced; meanwhile, the content of astringent substances such as caffeine, anthocyanin and tea polyphenols increases. Tea leaves picked in the summer are thicker and wider than in the spring. However, summer tea can stand longer brews, and is significantly cheaper.

Taste: The taste of summer tea is slightly bitter, and the aroma is not as good as that of spring tea.

Autumn tea

Autumn tea is picked after August; it is also called ‘White Dew Tea’. When the summer ends, the substances contained inside the tea leaves start to reduce. The leaves begin to turn yellow and become uneven in size.

Taste: The taste of White Dew Tea is not as delicate as that of spring tea but not as bitter as that of summer tea. Unexpectedly, it begins to return to its original natural aromas. It tastes savoury and mellow with a strong aftertaste.

Taste: Fresh, Grassy, Sweet

Brewing Guide

Tea Cup

2 teaspoon(s)

80°C (125ml)

2-3 mins

Enjoy!

Glass

4 tsp

80°C (250ml)

2-3 mins

Enjoy!

Teapot

8 tsp

80°C (500ml)

2-3 mins

Enjoy!

Kongfu Style

Both the top-drop method and the bottom-drop method are suitable.

Top-drop:

Warm the teaware with hot water. Discard the water afterward
Pour hot water (80°C) into the teaware until it is seven-tenths full
Add 2 teaspoons of tea for teacup/gaiwan (125ML), 4 teaspoons for glass (250ML) and 8 teaspoons for teapot (500ML)
Infuse tea for around 2-3 minutes, if using gaiwan gongfu, the first brew can be around 10s, the second time is around 20s, then gradually increase steeping time for subsequent brewing
Drink until 1/3 of the tea is left before refilling
Repeat a total of three times
Gradually increase steeping time for subsequent brews.

Bottom-drop:

Warm the teaware with hot water. Discard the water afterward
Add 2 teaspoons of tea for teacup/gaiwan (125ML), 4 teaspoons for glass (250ML) and 8 teaspoons for teapot (500ML)
Pour hot water (80–85°C) into the teaware until it is one-third full
Tilt the glass cup, slowly rotating it two times (this is to ensure a better infusion)
Pour hot water (80–85°C) into the teaware until it is seven-tenths full
Infuse tea for around 2-3 minutes, if using gaiwan gongfu, the first brew can be around 10s, the second time is around 20s, then gradually increase steeping time for subsequent brewing
Drink until 1/3 of the tea is left before refilling
Repeat a total of three times
Gradually increase steeping time for subsequent brews.

Origin

Xinyang Maojian mainly comes from the Cheyun, Jiyun, Yunwu, Tianyun and Lianyun Mountain areas, Heilong and Bailong Pools, and Hejia Village in Shihe District, Xinyang City, Henan province. These areas are often summarised as ‘Five mountains, two pools and one village.

Xinyang has unique natural conditions promoting the cultivation of tea trees. The annual average temperature is around 15.1℃ and the annual rainfall is about 1,134.7mm. Daylight hours from April to November are around 1,592.5 (73% of the annual total).

The soil in the areas where Xinyang Maojian is cultivated is mostly yellow and black sandy loam. This type of soil is loose but thick, with greater humus content and higher fertility. The pH value of the soil is between 4 and 6.5. Most tea plantations are located at an altitude of 300-800 metres. The mountains are forested, with lush vegetation and abundant rainfall; they are usually cloud-covered, with high humidity (over 75%). The sun is weak and with shorter daylight hours. The temperature difference between day and night is large. Tea trees grow slowly, which leads to fleshy leaves, a richer white fuzz and a greater accumulation of effective substance content. The region is located in high northern latitudes, and the annual average temperature is low, which is conducive to the synthesis and accumulation of nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids and caffeine.

Origin: Henan

Picking & Production

Ingredients: One bud with one leaf, the highest grade.

Picking Time: Picking begins around the Spring Equinox ((Mar.20^th, 21^th, 22^th) and ends around the Grain Rain (Apr.19th, 20th, or 21st). Tea made from the leaves picked between the Spring Equinox (Mar.20^th, 21^th, 22^th) and Pure Brightness （Apr.4th, 5th, or 6th）is called ‘Mingqian tea’, which is considered to have the best quality and is sold at the highest price on the market.

Our Green Tip Tea belongs to Mingqian green tea.

8 reviews for Green Tip Tea (Xinyang Maojian) 2024

Rated 5 out of 5
James B. – 15/08/2024
Brewed in Gaiwan, bottom drop. 2024 lot.
A textural and cloudy soup, rich and throat coating, the sweetness is good and it has the beginnings of floral character, the downy silver on the leaves speaks of a textural tea, you can feel it on your tongue, savoury and wonderful to sip while reading.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lucy – 19/04/2021
This is a wonderful green tea. Great way to get a much-needed burst of energy
Rated 5 out of 5
Bianca – 23/03/2021
I drink this tea when I need a detox. It leaves me energised and is great for my digestion. Highly recommend.
Rated 4 out of 5
Emily – 14/02/2021
A good choice as an everyday green tea that has a good balance of freshness and sweetness.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gabe N. – 26/12/2020
This is an affordable green tea that tastes beautiful. Crisp and strong. A great pick me up. Merry Christmas!
Rated 5 out of 5
Zac H. – 24/09/2020
Great for a burst of energy. Nice and delicious tea and the best green tea I’ve tried.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alannah R. – 20/04/2020
It’s flavour is very pleasant very similar to a good loose leaf green tea, but with a bit more richness to the aftertaste. It also has a little more toastiness than regular green tea, like true Oolong.
Rated 5 out of 5
Robert L. – 20/12/2019
I am gifted this Green Tea by my sister.If I tell you my experience with this green Tea is really awesome. My stomach gets cleaned. I also feel less tired, lite and healthy.