In China’s tea culture, Xinyang Maojian is like a brilliant pearl, attracting the attention of countless tea lovers with its unique charm. As an outstanding representative among green teas, Xinyang Maojian is hailed as the “King of Green Tea” for its unique style of being “fine, round, lustrous, straight, abundant in white hair, high in aroma, strong in taste, and green in tea soup”. It is produced in Xinyang City, Henan Province. Surrounded by mountains, with a mild climate, abundant rainfall and fertile soil, the unique natural conditions here provide an excellent environment for the growth of Xinyang Maojian. On this magical land, Xinyang Maojian interprets the essence of Chinese green tea with its unique charm.
I. The History and Legends of Xinyang Maojian
The history of Xinyang Maojian is long-standing and it was already renowned as early as the Tang Dynasty. According to historical records, Lu Yu, the sage of tea in the Tang Dynasty, made records about Xinyang tea in “The Classic of Tea”. After thousands of years of inheritance and development, Xinyang Maojian has gradually formed unique production techniques and quality characteristics. When picking, it is required to select the tender buds of one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves. Through processes such as fixation, rolling, and baking, the high-quality green tea with emerald green color and high aroma is finally made.
II. The Origin and Characteristics of Xinyang Maojian
The preciousness of Xinyang Maojian is closely related to its unique growing environment and superb production techniques. The Xinyang area features beautiful mountains and clear waters with a suitable climate, providing exceptional growing conditions for tea trees. Moreover, during the picking and production process, the right time, geographical advantages and human efforts are all emphasized. The picking of Xinyang Maojian undergoes careful selection and meticulous production by tea farmers, thus presenting its unique color, aroma and taste.
The appearance of Xinyang Maojian is fresh, lustrous, clean and free of impurities. Its aroma is elegant, fresh, and its taste is refreshing, mellow, and sweet aftertaste. In terms of shape, it is well-proportioned, fresh green and lustrous, with obvious white hairs. The shape is fine, round, lustrous, straight and rich in white hairs, and the color is emerald green. After brewing, the aroma is long-lasting, the taste is rich and mellow, with sweet aftertaste and promoting salivation. The tea soup is bright and clear. High-quality Xinyang Maojian has a light green, yellowish-green or bright tea soup, and a refreshing fragrance. Inferior Xinyang Maojian has a dark green or yellowish, turbid and dull tea soup. It is not resistant to brewing and has no tea aroma. These unique qualities make Xinyang Maojian stand out among green teas and become a favorite among tea lovers.
III. The Production Techniques of Xinyang Maojian
The production techniques of Xinyang Maojian are very meticulous, including multiple links such as picking, fixation, rolling and drying. When picking, tender buds around Grain Rain need to be selected to ensure the quality of the tea. Fixation is a key step in making Xinyang Maojian. Through high-temperature fixation, the enzyme activity in the tea can be quickly destroyed to maintain the color and aroma of the tea. Rolling is to shape the tea into slender strips, which is beneficial for the drying and brewing of the tea. Finally, after the drying process, Xinyang Maojian is completed.
IV. The Health Benefits of Xinyang Maojian
Xinyang Maojian not only has a unique taste but also has rich health benefits. It is rich in various nutrients such as tea polyphenols, amino acids, and vitamins, and has multiple effects such as promoting saliva production and quenching thirst, clearing the heart and improving eyesight, refreshing the mind, removing greasiness and aiding digestion. Long-term consumption of Xinyang Maojian can also play a role in antioxidation, anti-aging, lowering blood pressure, and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Purchase and Storage, Pay Attention to Methods
When purchasing Xinyang Maojian, observe whether the appearance of the tea leaves is well-proportioned and whether the color is fresh and green, and smell whether the aroma is elegant and fresh. At the same time, inquire about the origin and production techniques of the tea to ensure the purchase of high-quality Xinyang Maojian. For storage, it is necessary to pay attention to sealed preservation, avoid direct sunlight, and regularly check and turn the tea leaves to maintain their best quality.
Xinyang Maojian not only enjoys a high reputation domestically but is also exported overseas and deeply loved by foreign friends. At international tea expos, Xinyang Maojian has received numerous awards, earning honor for Chinese green tea. More and more people are beginning to pay attention to Xinyang Maojian and understand its quality characteristics and production techniques. This also provides broad space and opportunities for the industrial development of Xinyang Maojian.
As a treasure of Chinese green tea, Xinyang Maojian not only has unique quality characteristics and high nutritional value but also carries rich historical culture and humanistic sentiments. It allows people to enjoy the aroma of tea while also experiencing the gifts of nature and the edification of humanity. In the days to come, Xinyang Maojian will continue to inherit and carry forward its unique quality and cultural charm, contributing its own strength to the prosperity and development of world tea culture.