Was doing some scouting for local teas in Hunan, and came across a few that I haven't seen before. When asking for locally produced teas from the province, I was usually shown various brick-styles, which I really don't like. After some determined searching, I was able to find the following:
First up was this one,
yin zhen silver needles:
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The brewing method for this tea was to drop the leaves into the water. They float lengthwise, then one by one drop down to the bottom and unfurl, producing a light green liquor. Pleasant taste, although it quickly will become bitter if steeped for too long.
Next was a slightly higher grade called
mao jian, or Hairy Tips:
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Leaves are more tightly curled with points at the end, with more of a grayish-green color. Similar steeping properties and liquor color, but more flavorful.
My favorite of the 3 was
gou nao gong:
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Leaves were very lightweight, curled, and green covered with whitish hairs, with a distinctively sweet smell. Reminded me of a white tea, although the shop owner said it was a green (unless they don't differentiate?). Brew was at 80 degrees C, and liquor was an almost imperceptible yellow - a quick look and you'd think it was water. Lightest flavor of the bunch, with a slightly sweet after-taste. Interestingly, before leaving I poured some that was left steeping for 15 minutes, and it didn't have the slightest bitter taste.
