Yingshan Yunwu

About this tea

Yingshan Yunwu, meaning 'Yingshan Cloud Mist,' grows in the perpetually misty peaks of Yingshan County, Hubei Province. The tea gardens, shrouded in clouds over 200 days annually, create a mystical environment where tea grows slowly, developing exceptional sweetness and complexity. Local legend speaks of immortals dwelling in these mists, blessing the tea with longevity properties.

The constant mist provides natural shading and moisture, eliminating temperature extremes and creating ideal conditions for premium tea. The slow growth in this cloud forest environment concentrates amino acids and creates the tea's characteristic sweetness. Harvesting occurs in brief windows when mist lifts enough for pickers to work safely on steep slopes.

The flavor profile is ethereally delicate: sweet with mineral undertones from mountain springs, fresh vegetal notes suggesting mist and moss, clean, almost crystalline clarity, and subtle complexity that seems to shift like mist. The tea captures its environment - each sip evokes misty mountains. The liquor has exceptional transparency with a slight shimmer.

Brewing recommendations: Use 1 teaspoon (3g) per 250ml cup with water at 80°C (175°F), steeping for 2 minutes. Using mountain spring water enhances the mineral notes. The delicate character requires gentle handling. Multiple infusions reveal different aspects like walking through shifting mist.

Best enjoyed in quiet morning moments when mist might naturally occur. Pairs beautifully with simple foods that won't mask its delicate character. The limited production from high-altitude gardens makes it rare outside China. Many Chinese poets have written about Cloud Mist teas, considering them inspiration for contemplation and creativity.