"Monkey King" Tai Ping Hou Kui Handmade Green Tea

DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, THIS TEA IS SOLD OUT

– Sifu, what is that captivating fragrance? At first, I thought you were brewing tea, but it feels as if all the orchids in the garden suddenly burst into bloom beneath your window.

– Have you ever tasted this tea, my young friend? It is called Tai Ping Hou Kui - a tea that conceals the essence of delicate orchid flowers within its heart. 

Tai Ping Hou Kui (太平猴魁) is a remarkable tea from Anhui Province, China. Nestled in the Huangshan District, this tea grows at about 700 meters above sea level.

The leaves of Taiping Houkui adhere to a stringent picking standard. Only one bud and two leaves measuring 5 to 9cm in length are used to make this exceptional tea.

When steeped, Taiping Houkui unveils a gentle aroma reminiscent of delicate orchids. Its flavor harmoniously balances light sweetness with invigorating briskness, leaving a subtle and pleasing aftertaste. The aroma of orchids lingers in the empty cup, adding a refined touch.

Our Tai Ping Hou Kui originates from the heart of its production area in the village of Hou Keng. It is crafted by the tea master Hong Xing Ye using the Shi Da Shu (柿大树) cultivar with exceptionally large leaves. Following time-honored techniques, Hong Xing Ye shapes each Hou Kui leaf by hand, employing the "Niejian" (捏尖) method. This approach preserves the leaves' delicate aroma and flavors.

The production process behind Taiping Hou Kui is pretty meticulous. Plucking commences in the Spring, around the Gu Yu period, when the tea buds reach their ideal length of 8-10cm. The leaves then undergo strict selection followed by withering. The fixation process (杀青) involves firing the leaves in a wok at approximately 110℃ for 2-3 minutes. Next comes the shaping, where the tea master shapes each leaf into a long piece, creating the iconic grid-like lines that adorn the tea.

The tea further refines its character through a three-stage roasting process. The initial roasting, at temperatures of 70-100℃, dries the leaves to around 70% before allowing them to cool. At approximately 70℃, the second roasting continues the drying process until the leaves reach 90% dryness, followed by another cooling phase. Finally, the third and last roasting, at around 60℃, ensures complete dryness before the leaves are given their final cooling.

This tea captures the feeling of Spring. With its delicate balance of refreshing flavors and a captivating aroma, this tea invites you to immerse yourself in the artistry of Tai Ping Hou Kui – a cherished and revered Chinese tea.

• Opt for brewing this tea in a tall glass (the "grandpa-style") to enjoy the splendid qualities of this exceptional tea.

• And here is a video explaining how to brew Taiping Houkui Gong Fu style 

Brewing guidelines: