Mogan Huangya (莫干黄芽) is a famous yellow tea produced on the hills of Mogan Mountain in Zhejiang, China. Grown in bamboo forests across the misty mountain, Mogan Huangya is known for its mellow yet fresh flavour with a rich and refreshing aftertaste on top. Mogan Huangya is a type of yellow tea, which are teas not too dissimilar to green tea, but is processed with an extra step that makes yellow tea much rarer and much more complicated to make. Smothering, or 闷黄 in Chinese, is a process unique to yellow tea, where moist tea leaves are wrapped in cloths to further oxidise the tea leaves.
When sampling different Mogan Huangya teas, I tried this batch last knowing that it likely wouldn't compare to the higher-grade yellow teas that are harvested much earlier in March or early April. However, I was taken by surprise at how much more character this tea has, reminding me of a Tieguanyin if it had warmer nuttier flavours to it. Compared to its counterparts, this tea steeps well and has better longevity, which just gave me more of a reason to carry this tea and share it with you!
Tea Information
- Harvest Date: 28th April 2023
- Origin: Muzhuwu Village, Mogan Mountain, Deqing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China (中国，浙江省，德清县，莫干山，木竹坞村)
- Varietal: Longjing 43 (龙井 43)
- Elevation: Around 600m
- Source: Directly from Farmer
- Organic?: No
Map
Brewing Guide
Gongfu Brewing
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 4g/100ml
- Temperature: 85°C/185°F
- Steeping time: 30s, +15s for each subsequent steep
Western Brewing
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 4g/400ml
- Temperature: 85°C/185°F
- Steeping time: 2m, +1m for each subsequent steep
Grandpa Style
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 4g/300ml
- Temperature: 85°C/185°F
- Steeping time: 3m, top up to taste
Don't know anything about these brewing styles? Fret not! Read our "How to Brew Chinese Tea" article here!
* Ultimately, experiment with the different parameters to find what works for you. If you think it's too bitter, reduce the temperature. If it's too strong, reduce the number of leaves used. This is just a guide with rough parameters to get you started.
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The farmer's tea farm
