The Loushuiyuan Cooperative is supplying us with their Spring Season picks of both green and red (black) tea. We have combined these two teas into an affordable sampler:
-Green Maojian (30 grams)
-Red Maojian (30 grams)
Maojian is the simplified name that Loushuiyuan is giving to all of their non-wild teas. Gone are the Cuilu and Old Road Yihong of yester year. In practice, however, the Green Maojian is still a close copy of the better known Wufeng Maojian in neighboring Wufeng County; Red Maojian is following the same method as typical Yihong production, a style of red tea processing which has been dominant in Hefeng for well over a century. It is, however, distinct from the lower-grade Yihong usually found on the Western market due to its higher quantity of intact leaves, lower level of oxidation, and larger incorporation of leaves from heirloom varietal tea trees.
When brewing these teas, we invite you to observe the variety of leaf size and shape that heirloom tea bushes produce. The taste you will experience in Loushuiyuan's "Red Maojian" is similiar to the higher end Yihong that was carried by porters from Hefeng to Yichang a century ago. The producers want this history to be at the center of our experience. Enjoy it - ideally without milk and hot. The subtle spicy kick of the Red Maojian also makes it ideal for those who like unsweetened ice tea or chai.
As for the Green Maojian, it may be enjoyed grandpa style and does not present an unpalatable astringency, even when directly brewed with uncooled boiling water. Following the season, you may also steal a page from Hefeng tea farmers and place a small amount of this tea in a water bottle and take it on your next hike or picnic. Brewed cold, its taste is uniquely vegetal and smooth.
Read more about the Luoshuiyuan Cooperative here!
