Charming Anhui

Types of teas in Anhui province

Updated: 2010-04-29 12:35

Taiping Hou Kui Tea

Named after its main producing area--Taiping county, Huangshan, Taiping Hou Kui tea is also one of the best 10 teas in China. This tea won the gold medal at the Panama World Expo in 1915.

Tai Ping Hou Kui rests among the ten most famous green teas in China, but everything from the look of the leaves to the packing style differs greatly from the norm. The absolute highest grades of Tai Ping Hou Kui will feature leaves that exceed 15cm in length and are picked in perfectly identical sizes and bound together with cotton string. Another hallmark feature of Tai Ping Hou Kui is the grid pattern visible on each leaf that comes from the pressing during production; something that is always done by hand, not machine.

All other green teas are prized for their selected makeup of a small top-bud and leaf combination. Older and larger leaves picked lower down usually have unfavorable tastes and looks. Tai Ping Hou Kui is the different, with an unbelievably clean and refreshing taste along with a light grassy aroma. The unusually large bud and leaf combination is specific to only this area of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui province. The leaves can produce several infusions that maintain the deliciously green flavor and offer a great sight to behold with the enormous leaves standing upright in the glass.

Leaf sizes range from 6-10cm each!