Originating from the Phoenix Mountain in China’s Guandong province, this is a highly desired and fragrant tea. This tea is known for its smoothness and creamy, buttery flavour. Legend has it that the farmers named this tea to deter people from stealing it, but the word eventually got out about how good it was.
Brewing instructions
Standard Brew
Add 1 teaspoon of tea to 250ml of boiling water. Steep for 2-3 minutes. Strain and enjoy your brew. These leaves can be reinfused multiple times. Or, you can use them for cold brew (instructions below) after the first steep.
Gong Fu Brewing
- Add 5-6g to a gaiwan (the brewing vessel).
- Pour boiling water over the tea to wash it (a few seconds). Use it to warm and wash the remainder of the teaware.
- Pour boiling water into the brewing vessel again (for the first steep). This steep should be between 10-15 seconds.
- Pour the brewed tea into a gong dao bei (cup of equality) if serving more than one guest.
- Pour the tea into cups from the ging dao bei (cup of equality).
- Pour boiling water into the brewing vessel again (for the second steep). Increase the steep time by 5 seconds.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5.
- Continue pouring boiling water into the brewing vessel for as many steeps as you like/the tea will allow. You can do this over an hour or throughout the day.
- When you have finished brewing, wash the teaware in boiling water (and vinegar if severely stained).
- Compost the used tea leaves.
