Is Maojian a green tea?

Maojian mostly belongs to green tea, but it cannot be generalized. The name Maojian originally described the appearance of the tea leaves, that is, tender buds and leaves, tightly rolled and straight, with visible white down. Any tea matching this morphological characteristic is often named Maojian, and most of them are made according to green tea processing methods, such as Xinyang Maojian, Duyun Maojian, Huangshan Maojian, Guzhang Maojian and others, all of which are well-known green teas.

However, there are exceptions, such as Beigang Maojian and Weishan Maojian, which are generally classified as yellow tea because their production process includes a menhuang (yellowing) step. Therefore, to judge what kind of tea a certain Maojian belongs to, the key is not the name, but its processing technique and degree of fermentation.

The common Maojian green tea on the market is an unfermented tea, characterized by clear liquor and green leaves. After brewing, it has a fresh and brisk taste and a high, clear aroma. It is generally brewed in a glass cup with hot water at about 80 degrees, which better preserves its fresh and brisk mouthfeel. When purchasing, you can check the tea category label on the packaging to confirm whether it is green tea or yellow tea.

In addition, although Maojian and Maofeng differ by only one character, the two differ in appearance and picking standards. Maofeng buds and leaves are relatively more spread out, while Maojian is more tightly rolled and straight. For daily storage of Maojian green tea, attention should be paid to sealing, avoiding light, and protecting from moisture. It is best stored at low temperature to prevent the tea from aging and changing flavor.