Teas like Chun Mee and Young Hyson

[AlexZorach]

I really like Chun Mee and Young Hyson green teas...I like their cool quality and their bitterness. My favorite so far has been the organic Chun Mee Dao Ming from Upton Tea, but I tend to like every Chun Mee or Young Hyson that I've tried (including, surprise, Tazo's "Evny"--not my favorite--but it's a decent Chun Mee).

I like these teas because they can be quite bitter and less sweet; they taste cool and clean but are very full-bodied and have some kick to them. I like the hint of smokiness that is usually present, but weaker than in gunpowder green, and I like the floral complexity suggestive of a black tea that is present in some of the best grades of these teas.

Many tea companies don't sell these teas though. Are there any other styles of tea that I should be looking at that have similar characteristics?

[Chip]

Chun Mee and Young Hyson are often a grade up from Gunpowder greens. I have seen Chun Mee used in Chinese tins in Chinatown and Chinese markets, but more often Gunpowder.

These 3 are most likely to exhibit the "qualities" you are looking for in green tea, smokiness and bitterness.

In greens I personally do not care for the smokiness nor the often harsh bitterness they tend to exhibit.

[AlexZorach]

The problem I've run into is that generic Chun Mee and Young Hyson that you can pick up in Chinatown and Chinese markets can be pretty unreliable and some of them can be pretty bad. The worst of them have little complexity and are very acidic.

The best one I've tried is truly an outstanding tea, not really resembling the others...and yet much stronger and more bitter than most other green teas with as complex an aroma...that's why I'd like to find more!

I have found some good gunpowder out there but it's very smokey...I prefer like the gentle hint of smokiness of Chun Mee.