Xinyang Maojian Tea,
Hairpoint Tea from Henan's Xinyang
Henan's Xinyang prefecture has been famous for its Maojian tea since
the Tang dynasty. Today it is one of the country's most thriving
areas of agricultural and sideline production, quite often visited
and written about, so its tea is being sampled by more people.
Though
Xinyang is on the edge of the arid North China plain, the
mountainous southern and western parts, crisscrossed by streams and
brooks, have plenty of the clouds and mist needed for good tea. The
processed leaves are in fire, taut strips. They yield a beverage
with a chestnut flavor and a long-lasting aftertaste. This tea has
been produced with only very simple equipment. What makes it
different are the skillful hand movements of rolling, adjusted to
the heat and softness or dryness of the tender leaves.
Not much is exported, but the tea can be bought locally and in
Zhengzhou and Kaifeng in the province, and in large cities like
Beijing, Wuhan, and Tianjin.
