Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
TaiPing HouKui green tea has uniquely long, flat leaves that make an amazing sight when brewed in a clear glass – which we strongly recommend! The tea is made from one bud with two leaves that come from a large leaf variety of the tea plant found only in Anhui province. During processing the leaves are pressed flat in an oven, giving the tea its unique shape.
TeaVivre’s TaiPing KouKui has a fresh, orchid like fragrance with a classic sweet green tea taste. When brewed it has a bright green color, that combine with the size of the leaves to make a tea that is great to admire in a tall clear glass. This tea is not bitter in the least, and retains its sweet taste even after many infusions.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Another sample I was more than happy to review! Tai Ping is one of my coveted, favorite green teas, probably my favorite of the Chinese green teas. So when Teavivre sent me this Premium Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea to review … YES!
It has been a little while since I had my last cup of Tai Ping, so I had to think a moment about how I was going to brew it. While I brew most of my green teas in my Breville One-Touch, I really love to watch the long, beautiful leaves of a Tai Ping tea steep. I could put them in my gaiwan and leave the lid off of it, but then I wouldn’t get to enjoy the leaves as they begin to stand straight up.
Does it make me a tea nerd that I like to watch this tea brew? And I kind of emit an excited squeal when the leaves begin to stand up and gently sway in the water?
So I decided to get out my glass teacup. The same one I brew flowering teas in so that I can watch that cool tea show. I let the tea brew for 1 minute and 45 seconds in 180°F water. Then I strained and took my first sip.
The aroma is so gentle and sweet. It reminds me of early mornings at the beginning of spring, when the new signs of life are starting to show themselves. On the nights after a spring rain, the morning you step out onto the doorstep and the aroma of the air, fresh and flowery and ‘green’ – I love that smell, and that’s what I smell as I lift this cup to my nose to inhale the fragrance.
The flavor is sublime! The above description suggests a “classic green tea flavor” and I suppose I get that, but, since that doesn’t really tell you just what I’m experiencing, I think I’ll go into a bit more detail.
The sip begins softly. A gentle sweetness washes over the palate. Notes of orchid and hints of sweet grass mingle with a buttery note. The butter is a sweet, creamy butter taste, and there is a slight creaminess to the texture that accentuates the butter notes. The finish is slightly dry but only slightly. This isn’t what I’d refer to as an astringent tea, so if you tend to steer clear of those, you’re safe with this one (and you really SHOULD try it!) The texture is soft … almost fluffy. Almost vanilla-esque. Quite nice! The aftertaste is sweet and I taste that sweetness for quite a while after the sip.
For a truly MEMORABLE cup of tea, I’m of the opinion that you really can’t go wrong with a Tai Ping. And as Teavivre has proven to me time and time again that they are one of the very top sources for Chinese teas, this would be the place to get yourself some Tai Ping. And it didn’t escape my notice that this tea is currently 20% off either! Time to stock up on this freshly harvested tea (it was harvested in April!)
