A while ago, I received a request from a tea friend in Hong Kong to source a batch of high-quality Muzha Tieguanyin. Taking a break from my work in Lishan, I headed over to the Muzha tea region these past couple of days. However, since the spring tea harvest wrapped up two months ago, the best batches had already been picked over, so I wasn’t able to find top-tier Tieguanyin this time.
I didn’t find the tea I was looking for, but it wasn’t a wasted trip—I got to taste quite a few rare teas. Aside from the most famous Tieguanyin (Fig. 1), I also tried Shuixian (Fig. 2), Large-Leaf variety, Huangjinguic (Figs. 3 & 5), and Wuyi (Fig. 4), all crafted using the traditional Tieguanyin processing method. Every single one was an absolute eye-opener!
The biggest surprise, though, was an Oriental Beauty tea made from the “Tieguanyin tea plant variety” (Figs. 6 & 7). Yes, you read that right—Tieguanyin Oriental Beauty! When the tea farmer proudly showed it off, I thought I misheard them. The flavor is simply indescribable: sweet, smooth, and bursting with that distinct “bug-bitten honey flavor.” It is undeniably top-tier, competition-grade quality!
However, this tea is not for sale because only a tiny amount was harvested, just enough to serve our guests. It’s quite a shame that you can’t buy it.
Manager’s Chat
Visiting the Muzha tea region this time, another impression I got was that “there are fewer tourists!”, especially around the Maokong Station area where the crowds have dropped significantly.
Chatting with several tea farmers, they all mentioned a “lack of international tourists.” This is a heavy blow to Muzha’s tea farmers; after all, the Maokong Gondola is a popular itinerary for foreign travelers, and Tieguanyin is a renowned local specialty. Without this major demographic of international visitors following the pandemic, the income of tea farmers has inevitably taken a hit.
Dear tea friends, if you have some free time, come up to Maokong for a visit. With mask restrictions relaxed these days, you don’t need to wear a mask while taking a stroll in Muzha, and you can take in deep breaths of fresh air!
Note: The weeds in the tea garden aren’t left unpulled out of laziness; they are there to protect the tea plants and soil, and will be cleared once summer is over.
