Yunnan "Zhu Ye Qing" Green Tea

This tea was picked from the first flush of spring harvest high in the mountains of Simao. These tender young buds were processed in a way that is similar to how other premium small-leaf tea varietals (like Emei Sichuan Zhu Ye Qing) are processed elsewhere in China, but as this is from a large-leaf tea varietal of Yunnan (Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica), it retains some distinct characteristics and a bolder large-leaf taste. This tea is high in tannins which give it a penetrating vegetal aroma and a strong "umami" flavor which coats the mouth and throat. These leaves are best brewed in a clear glass or cha hai which shows off the tendency of the leaves to line up vertically, some floating at the surface and others sinking to the bottom. Early March Harvest!