Maofeng – Huang Shan

Huangshan = yellow Moutain

Maofeng = Fur Peak

Sometimes I truly feel that the mountain mirrors its tea. Huangshan astonishes with its breathtaking peaks, rolling seas of clouds, and ancient pines. I still remember the awe I felt the first time I climbed it, marveling at the craftsmanship of nature itself. And yet, Huangshan is not even counted among China’s Five Great Mountains. Its tea, like the mountain itself, shares a similar fate — though honored as one of China’s Ten Famous Teas, has never enjoyed the same popularity in the market as Longjing or other green teas. In all my years of exploring tea, I rarely saw it except in the homes of older generations.

Today, many tea drinkers seek teas with complex, layered flavors, yet the defining charm of Maofeng lies in its clarity and freshness. This freshness is even more pronounced than in most green teas, precisely because it is free from excessive complexity.

I never found Maofeng Particularly Impressive, until one day, after countless tastings of teas with intricate characters, this tea suddenly surprised me. It was simply pure and refreshing — effortless, light, and quietly delightful, with hardly any astringency.

Sometimes, the greatest pleasure comes from enjoying a flavor that is beautifully simple.