What Tea Is Huangshan Maofeng? Understanding Its Origin, Price, and Grade Differences in One Article

The name Huangshan Maofeng may be quite unfamiliar to those who do not drink tea, but it is actually one of China's top ten famous teas. It belongs to green tea, and tea lovers are extremely fond of it. So what tea is Huangshan Maofeng? Where is Huangshan Maofeng produced? How much is Huangshan Maofeng per jin? How do you distinguish Huangshan Maofeng grades?

I. What Tea Is Huangshan Maofeng?

Huangshan Maofeng is produced in the Huangshan (Huizhou) area of Anhui Province, so it is also called Hui tea. It was created by the Xie Yuda Tea House during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. Every year around Qingming and Guyu, the first unfolded plump and tender buds of fine tea tree varieties such as “Huangshan zhong” and “Huangshan dayezhong” are selected and hand-fired. The tea has a slightly curled appearance, shaped like a bird's tongue, yellow-tinged green, with visible silvery down, and with golden fish leaves (commonly known as golden pieces). When brewed in a cup, the mist gathers at the top, the liquor is clear and slightly yellow, the infused leaves are yellow-green and lively, the taste is mellow and sweet, the aroma is like orchid, and the aftertaste is long and deep. Because the newly made tea is covered with white down, the bud tips are sharp and pointed, and the fresh leaves are picked from the high peaks of Huangshan, the tea was named Huangshan Maofeng.

II. Where Is Huangshan Maofeng Produced?

The Huangshan area originally produced green tea for export before the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Since Xie Zheng'an of Caoxi created Huangshan Maofeng in the first year of Guangxu, its bud tea raw materials were selected from the Chongtouyuan tea garden. Thus Chongtouyuan in Xiaoyuan of Huangshan is the birthplace of Huangshan Maofeng. Because it belongs to the first deep-mountain narrow-valley village on the south-facing side of the Huangshan main range as it runs south and then turns east, it has a uniquely favorable ecological environment, truly deserving the saying “high mountains produce good tea.” As for the spread and development of Huangshan Maofeng, judging from the direction of the ancient road from Chongtouyuan and the exchanges among mountain villagers, it broadly expanded in three steps:

Starting from Chongtouyuan:

1) South along the stream down through Dayuan, Siping, Huangbaishan, and Shuangkengkou to Caoxi;

2) East over Madaitou to Xintian 10 li and Wayaotan and Hengluxia;

3) West over Shitouling and repeatedly across 8 rivers to Tangkou 7.5 km.

4) From Caoxi northeast to Jieshi, Fuzhou, and Xiaowei; south through Changwei, Xikeng, Yangjiazhen, and Zhengcun to Dongkengkou;

5) From Xintian along the river to Xinwuxia; from Hengluxia outward to Shewuhou, and inward to Tianli;

6) From Tangkou north to Huangshan's Taohua Peak, Ziyun Peak, Ciguang Pavilion, Yungu Temple, and Huangshan's north-facing Songgu Nunnery, which are famous high-mountain gardens, thus forming the saying “famous mountains produce famous tea.” West to Fangcun and Gangcun, and south to Yangcun and Qiashe. East down to Shancha. At this time, Xiaoyuan of Huangshan spread to every village, Tangkou, and the famous gardens of Huangshan, while Dayuan of Huangshan spread to the major villages, producing Huangshan Maofeng.

Fangcun spread it to Jinzhukeng and Yákēng. Wangcun spread it to Dalingxia, Ruanxishan, and Ruozhukeng. Yangcun spread it to Hucun Tudang, Meicun, Shizuiwan, Shankou, Jiangcun, Taoyuan, Huangcun, Jincun, and Shantou. Qiashe spread it to Shanlingxia, Jinxia, Wujialin (Changtan), and Niutoukeng (Zhangcun). This step mainly involved the four major villages of Dayuan in Huangshan spreading production of Huangshan Maofeng to all the villages.

III. How Much Is Huangshan Maofeng per Jin?

The price of special-grade Huangshan Maofeng is generally 600-800 yuan per jin;

The price of first-grade Huangshan Maofeng is usually 300-400 yuan per jin;

The price of second-grade Huangshan Maofeng is generally 150-300 yuan per jin;

The price of third-grade Huangshan Maofeng is generally 50-120 yuan per jin;

The price of baked green Huangshan Maofeng is generally 15-60 yuan per jin.

Tea prices vary according to different grades.

IV. How Do You Distinguish Huangshan Maofeng Grades?

The picking standard for special-grade Huangshan Maofeng is: one bud and one tender leaf just beginning to unfold, picked around Qingming

The picking standard for first-grade Huangshan Maofeng is: one bud and one tender leaf unfolded, one bud and two tender leaves just beginning to unfold, picked around Guyu

The picking standard for second-grade Huangshan Maofeng is: one bud and two tender leaves unfolded, one bud and three tender leaves just beginning to unfold, picked around Guyu

The picking standard for third-grade Huangshan Maofeng is: one bud and one leaf, two leaves, and three tender leaves unfolded, picked around Guyu