Huang Shan Mao Feng Reserve

Been awhile since I reviewed something, mostly since I am visiting my parents and they drink different tea then me. On the plus side the Teavana near my parents was having a sale on everything in store, not just the Heavenly sale items. So they kindly picked me up a few large containers of tea, apparently for 75% off the original price.

I have had better green tea then this before but for something from Teavana, it’s not bad. It has a very very light flavor that is not bad and it smells a little like Chicken Noodle Soup. I would probably steep this longer myself, since I like to have a stronger flavor some times. Would get this again though, probably not as much as they got me since it’s going to take me a long time to use all of this hahaha.

I normally like my green teas to have a strong flavor profile, but I have to admit I am impressed with this tea. Yes, it has a light body and very subtle flavor, but it is very good.

The aroma once infused is very floral, I can smell orchids and maybe a hint of jasmine, the flavor is reminiscent of a flower shop, if that makes any sense. The first infusion is quite aromatic but very delicately flavored, I normally use tap water but I had to use mineral water with this one because the flavor is so subtle tap water will definitely kill it.

The second infusion was, in my opinion, much better than the first one. The aroma of the second infusion was toned down and was not as strong as the first one, but the flavor was stronger and the floral flavors were very accessible, with a hint of sweet fruits I can’t quite pinpoint.

One thing to keep in mind is that this tea is quite finicky when it comes to brewing temperature, leaf quantity, and time. Teavana’s steeping parameters (175 degrees for 45 seconds) simply did not work out for me, the tea came out tasteless. The way I thought worked best was:
1st infusion: 180 degrees for 3 minutes
2nd infusion: 180 degrees for 5 minutes
I also used 2 heaping teaspoons per 8 ounces, which brings me to the next point: price.
This tea is quite pricey; at 10 USD per ounce it is not something I’d buy by the pound. It is totally worth every penny, but I think 2 ounces now and then will do the trick for me.

I will definitely buy again.

It’s plain. Nothing compared to Dragonwell or Sench Jade Reserve, but it’s not bad. I like to steep it for a little longer than 1 minute or it’s too light. It’s more similar to white tea than green tea.

Light and refreshing green by itself. I bought this when it was on sale at 75% off, so no qualms there.
Makes a lovely base for an Osmanthus infusion, makes for a blend with the soul of a sunny spring day.

A very subtle green! Very refreshing to my palette. I picked up this tea on sale at Teavana so I did not pay retail for it. It’s a very distinctive tea, I had not tasted anything like it in the past. It’s a lovely addition to my green collection. I’m not sure, however, if it would be worth repurchasing given that the best cup is the first one. After three steeps, the flavour in this tea is practically non-existent, which is not what I look for in an imperial reserve tea. For that one cup, however, it’s worth it to try. Most of the teas I own are quite strong, this is nice contrast.

A subtle lovely green, distinctly Chinese.

Very nice but worth the price?

I like this tea. It’s got a well-balanced cashmere-y flavor that is less green and more tea. It is almost impossible (within reason) to make bitter. I’ve steeped – and resteeped – at 160 and 175, from one to two minutes and everything in between. The second cup tastes almost identical to the first. The third is where it starts to fade out.

Overall a solid, pleasant, easy green tea.

Having said that, I’m not sure it’s worth the price. It’s really a good tea. But at $20 a pop I’m not sure I’d go back right away. Maybe someday but I’m off to explore other greens for now…

love this tea! full smooth and creamy flavor that has a nice after taste. very nutty.