The Allure of Chinese Green Teas
A. Historic Origins and Cultural Significance
- Sprouting – Ancient man collected and dried the buds and leaves of wild tea trees, which can be regarded as the beginning of green tea processing. According to “Huayang Guozhi”, after King Wu of Zhou conquered the Zhou Dynasty, a small country in the southwest of Ba Shu used tea as “tribute”.
- Large-scale planting, manufacturing and drinking – from the world’s earliest surviving records of tea, Wang Bao’s “Boy’s Testament” and the legend of Wu Lizhen’s planting of tea trees in the Mengshan Mountains, it can be proved that the Mengding Mountains in Sichuan Province is the origin of tea planting and tea manufacturing.
- Green tea processing in the true sense of the word began with the invention of the steaming method – according to Lu Yu’s “The Classic of Tea”, the method was: “When it is sunny, pick it. Steaming, pounding, patting, baking, wearing, sealing, tea dry.” This is the Tang Dynasty steamed green tea production steps.
- Processing technology tends to mature – Ming Dynasty tea is generally fried green, a few places used the sun green, and began to pay attention to the appearance of the tea leaves beautiful, the tea kneaded into a rope. Green tea processing technology has been relatively mature, has been used until now, and constantly improved. Drinking tea gradually changed to tea. Three cups of tea, big bowl of tea and other ways of drinking began to popularize. Tea drinking became a delicate art form, and green tea was especially valued for its delicate flavor and medicinal value. The famous tea scripture “The Classic of Tea” by Lu Yu (733-804 A.D.) codified the knowledge and rituals related to the cultivation, preparation and appreciation of tea.
B. Health Benefits and Therapeutic Properties
Chinese green teas are renowned for their exceptional health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, particularly catechins, which have been shown to protect against free radical damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Green teas also contain caffeine, which provides a gentle energy boost without the jitters associated with coffee. Additionally, they have been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, including headaches, digestive issues, and inflammation.
Exploring the Delicate Nuances of Chinese Green Tea Types
A. Huang Shan Mao Feng: The Aristocrat of Green Teas
Huangshan Maofeng is one of the ten most famous teas in China, produced in the area of Huangshan (Huizhou) in Anhui Province. The tea has a slightly curled shape, resembling a bird’s tongue, green with yellowish color, with silver hairs showing, and with golden yellow fish leaves (commonly known as gold pieces). Because the new tea leaves are white, the buds are pointed, and the fresh leaves are picked from the peak of Huangshan Mountain, the tea is named Huangshan Maofeng.
Upon brewing, Huang Shan Mao Feng unveils a symphony of flavors that dance upon the palate. Its initial sip greets with a subtle sweetness, followed by a refreshing astringency that lingers pleasantly. The finish leaves a lingering note of vegetal notes, reminiscent of freshly picked bamboo shoots, with a hint of floral undertones.
To fully appreciate the grandeur of Huang Shan Mao Feng, meticulous brewing rituals are essential. A porcelain gaiwan, renowned for its heat retention, is the preferred vessel. The water, sourced from a pure mountain spring, should be heated to a precise 80-85°C (176-185°F) to preserve the tea’s delicate flavors.
B. Tai Ping Hou Kui: The Heavenly Sword of Green Teas
Tai Ping Hou Kui, a legendary green tea from Anhui Province, stands out with its unparalleled shape and size. Its leaves, resembling the broadswords of ancient warriors, are meticulously hand-rolled into graceful, needle-like strands. When steeped, they unfurl into a mesmerizing spectacle, resembling a verdant tapestry.Monkey Kui tea according to its quality, including Monkey Kui, Kui pointed, pointed tea 3 categories, including the best Monkey Kui. Monkey Kui tea from a variety of sayings, one of which is rumored to be the end of the Qing Dynasty, Nanjing Taiping Chun, Jiangnan Chun and other tea estates, have set up tea in the Taiping production area to buy tea processing tea, pointed tea, transported to Nanjing and other places. Jiangnan Spring Tea House from the tip of the tea picked out young buds and leaves as a high-quality tea supply market, success.
Tai Ping Hou Kui possesses a distinct flavor profile that sets it apart from its peers. Its initial sip unveils a refreshing sweetness, followed by a subtle smokiness that adds depth and complexity. The finish lingers with a hint of roasted chestnuts, leaving a lasting impression on the palate.
The medicinal qualities of Tai Ping Hou Kui have been revered for centuries. Its high concentration of antioxidants and polyphenols has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, and enhanced cognitive function.
Gift Huangshan Mao Feng good or Taiping Monkey Kui good
Taiping Monkey Kui and Huangshan Mao Feng tea are good, each has its own benefits, each has its own efficacy belongs to the history of the famous tea!
Strong heart antispasmodic effect: caffeine has a strong heart, antispasmodic, relaxation of smooth muscle effect, can lift the bronchial spasm, promote blood circulation, is the treatment of bronchial asthma, cough phlegm, myocardial infarction, a good adjuvant drug.
- Inhibition of atherosclerosis: tea polyphenols and vitamin C in tea have blood circulation to prevent atherosclerosis, so regular tea drinkers have a lower incidence of hypertension and coronary heart disease.
- Antibacterial and antibacterial effects: tea in the tea polyphenols and tannins act on bacteria, can coagulate bacterial proteins, will kill bacteria. It can be used to treat intestinal diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, enteritis and so on. Skin sores, ulcers and pus, trauma broken skin, rinse the affected area with strong tea, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. Oral inflammation, ulcers, sore throat, with tea to treat, also has a certain effect.
- Weight loss effect: tea in the caffeine, inositol, folic acid, pantothenic acid and aromatic substances and other compounds, can regulate fat metabolism, especially oolong tea has a good decomposition of protein and fat. Tea polyphenols and vitamin C can reduce cholesterol and blood lipids, so tea can lose weight.
- Anti-caries effect: Tea contains fluorine, fluoride ions and dental calcium has a great affinity, can become a more difficult to dissolve in acid “fluorapatite”, like to the teeth plus a protective layer, improve the teeth acid resistance to caries.
- Inhibition of cancer cells: It has been reported that the flavonoids in tea have different degrees of in vitro anticancer effects, and the stronger ones are ponceau alkaloids, mulberry pigments and catechins.
- Delay aging: polyphenols have strong antioxidant and physiological activity, and are scavengers of free radicals in the human body. According to the relevant departments of the research proved that 1 mg of tea polyphenols scavenging harmful excess free radicals in the human body is equivalent to the efficacy of 9 micrograms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), much higher than other substances of the same kind. Tea polyphenols have the effect of blocking lipid peroxidation and removing active enzymes. According to the results of the Japanese Okuda test, confirmed that the anti-aging effect of tea polyphenols than vitamin E is 18 times stronger.
Nutrient/Element | Huangshan Maofeng | Taiping Houkui |
---|---|---|
Caffeine | Moderate | Moderate-High |
Catechins | High | High |
Amino Acids | High | High |
Vitamins C | Present | Present |
Vitamin E | Present | Present |
Potassium | Present | Present |
Magnesium | Present | Present |
Fluoride | Present | Present |
Zinc | Trace | Trace |
Manganese | Trace | Trace |