太平猴魁
Taiping Hou Kui was first made during the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is only produced in the Huangshan area of An Hui Province. The tea tree that produces Hou Kui is called Shi Da Cha (柿大茶), and it has much bigger leaves and buds than other tea trees. Although Tai Ping Hou Kui is produced in the entire Tai Ping area, only the teas growing in Hou Keng (猴坑), Hou Gang (猴岗) and Yan Jia Cun (颜家村) are considered to be the best ones. Because of the high elevation of this area, the tea season usually starts from Gu Yu (around April 20), so unlike other green tea, there is no Ming Qian tea for Hou Kui. This Hou Kui we selected is from Hou Keng, one of the best producing areas. The tea leaves of Hou Kui are big and delicate. Because of its unique shape, it is better to brew it using a glass. It has a fresh, mellow aroma and a smooth, sweet taste. Since the tea hasn't been rolled and shaped (揉捻, Rou Nian) like other green tea, it can usually be brewed for more than four steeps.