Yunnan Black Mao Feng – Black Tea

Brew & Taste

This tea is typical for its thin, wire-like leaves. The flavor is full-bodied, nobly bitter and crowned with fruity notes. It has a long, fresh and bittersweet aftertaste. Mao Feng gives a bright, dark red to golden color. You can flavor it with brown sugar, and in the case of iced tea adding some fruit is recommended.

Origins

Yunnan Province, from which this black tea comes, is located in southern China. It is a hilly region with a climate influenced by high altitude as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The growing season is long, but agricultural activity is determined by the limited amount of farmable land. Nevertheless, tea trees have been grown in Yunnan (China) for thousands of years, and their quality has remained the same. Black tea was not produced in the country until the middle of the 20th century. Before then, China was exclusively a bastion of green and white teas. While the local people have not yet acquired a taste for fermented teas, Chinese Black Tea is in high demand on the international market.

Mao Feng's journey begins in the tea gardens in the foothills of the Yunnan mountains. The leaves and buds of Chinese tea trees (Camellia sinensis) are plucked by women and girls early in the morning to avoid dew, which could trigger premature fermentation. After transporting to the processing farm, the tea is left to wilt. Either outdoors, in partial shade, or special rooms with fans. This is followed by rolling and fermentation, a step during which the enzymes are oxidized. The plantation manager controls the temperature, humidity and length of fermentation. Only precise values and the perfect balance of all factors will produce the desired results. One of the last tasks is drying, either over a fire or in large pans. After this, the tea is sorted out according to size and quality, packed and exported.

Tea packaging preview

We pack our teas in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. This container protects the quality of the tea against humidity, light or foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew.