Tasting of China Green Spring Peak
amllist
Province. The name Mao Feng indicates a spring pick
of superior quality, only the youngest leaf and bud
sets are selected.
Vendor - In Pursuit of Tea <http://www.truetea.com/>
(This tea was provided as a sample for review)
Dry leaf - Long green needles, uniform.
Wet leaf - When the tea starts to infuse it is bright green.
After a few steeps the tea becomes a olive green.
Then infused leaf sets (bud plus first young leaf)
are picked at their peak, and the leaves are full and
small. A very high grade leaf.
Water - Crystal Geyser natural alpine water bottled at
the source, California, Sierra Nevada Mts.
Steeping Method - 2 Gaiwans (one for steeping, pour liquor into
second) , chop with lid during steep to provide
mixing, lid never completely closed. Hot water
never poured directly on leaf, but on interior
side of pre-heated gaiwan.
Sample #1 - 170 F (77 C), 3.0 g / 6 oz of water
Steep 1, of sample 1 - 2 min,
Color - Pale yellow with a tinge of green.
Aroma - Light vegetal, sweet.
Taste - Slight vegetal, substantial, sweet, mellow,
refreshing.
Steep 2, of sample 1 - 2 1/2 min,
Color - Yellow with a tinge of green.
Aroma - Sweet, delicate.
Taste - Medium bodied, brimming with sweetness and flavor,
substantial, mellow, refreshing.
Steep 3 of sample 1 - 3 min.
Color - Bright yellow tinge of green.
Aroma - Delicate, sweet..
Taste - Medium body, sweet, mild, mellow, refreshing,
Sample #2 - 3.0 oz/ 6 oz of water, 180 F (82 C)
Steep 1, of sample 2 - 2 min,
Color - Pale yellow green..
Aroma - Delicate sweet, distinctive....
Taste - Sweet, medium body, flavorful, mellow
light vegetal, substantial.
Steep 2 of sample 2 - 2 1/2 min
Color - Bright yellow with tinge of green.
Aroma - Light vegetal, sweet.
Taste - Sweet, refreshing, medium body, substantial.
Wasn't happy with taste at 180 F, so decided to try
a step at 160F.
Steep 3 - 160 F, 2 1/2 min.
Color - Yellow with tinge of green.
Aroma - Sweet, distinctive.
Taste - Sweet, refreshing, substantial, mellow.
Sample 3 - 160 F, 3 g/ 6 oz of water.
Steep 1 of sample 3 - 2 1/2 min.
Color - Pale yellow green.
Aroma - Sweet, hint of green.
Taste - Medium body, mellow, sweet, slight vegetal, substantial.
Steep 2 of sample 3 - 3 min.
Color - Yellow green.
Aroma - Delicate sweet.
Taste - Medium bodied, substantial, mellow, sweet,
refreshing.
Steep 3 of sample 3 - 3 1/2 min.
Color - Yellow, tinge of green.
Aroma - Delicate, sweet.
Taste - Medium body, light sweet, mellow, refreshing.
Conclusions:
1. At 170 F, 3.0 g / 6 oz of water, 2 1/2 min., the
aroma is sweet and delicate; the taste is
medium- bodied, brimming with sweetness and flavor,
substantial, mellow, and refreshing.
An excellent cup.
,
2. At 180 F, 3.0 g / 6 oz of water, 2 min., the aroma
is delicate sweet, and distinctive; the taste is
sweet, medium body, flavorful, mellow, light vegetal,
and substantial.
3. At 160 F, 3.0 g / 6 oz of water, 2 1/2 min, the aroma
is sweet, with a hint of green; the taste is medium body,
mellow, sweet, slight vegetal, and substantial.
Another excellent cup.
4. Thus we cam see that this tea is excellent over
a temperature range of 160 to 170 F, and over
steeping times from 2 to 3 min.
Alan M. Liebschutz