No. 109, Tai Ping Hou Kui

Wisp of Smoke ~ Honey Nut Squash ~ Bamboo Shoots  Grown high in the mist-shrouded Yellow Mountains (Huang Shan) of Tai Ping Prefecture in Anhui Province, Tai Ping Hou Kui,  poetically translated as “Green Monkey Chief”,  is among China’s most distinctive green teas.  Its extraordinary appearance is unmistakable: elongated, slender leaves carefully pressed between fine steel mesh screens during a gentle, low-fire baking process, creating their signature flat, lattice-imprinted form.  The infusion reveals a luminous, pale green liquor with a savory, vegetal depth reflective of the region’s mineral-rich terroir. Notes of tender squash and delicate wildflowers unfold softly, with a whisper of smoke lingering on the finish.  Origin: Anhui Province, China | Early Spring, 2025 Picking Standard: 1 bud and 2 leaves Cultivar: Sha Di Cha