At a glance
Zunyi Maofeng is a green-tea reference associated with Meitan in Zunyi. The older account places its modern development in 1974, also recorded in a reviewed history of local tea research. Maofeng names and visible white hairs do not make all similarly named teas one product.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 遵义毛峰 |
| Tea family | Green tea |
| Associated origin | Meitan, Zunyi, Guizhou |
| Leaf form | Fine, tight, rounded straight strands with white hairs in the old table |
Taste and appearance
The retained table describes fine, tight, rounded straight strands with white hairs, lustrous green colour and tender-green through yellow-green bright liquor. Tender or clean fragrance accompanies a fresh, mellow and brisk cup, becoming fuller in the third tier. The inherited cover is a reference illustration, not a certified match to each grade.
The original liquor photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.
The cover is the original dry-leaf illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Extra grade | Grade 1 | Grade 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-leaf shape | Fine, tight, rounded and straight, covered with white hairs | Fairly tight and straight, visible white hairs | Tight and straight, with white hairs |
| Dry-leaf colour | Green, lustrous and bright | Green and lustrous | Yellow-green, fairly lustrous |
| Liquor | Tender green and bright | Green and bright | Yellow-green and bright |
| Aroma | Lasting tender fragrance | Lasting clean fragrance | Lasting light clean fragrance |
| Taste | Clean, mellow, fresh and brisk | Fresh and mellow | Fairly full and mellow |
| Infused leaves | Tender green, bright and even | Fairly tender, fairly bright green and even | Yellow-green, fairly bright and even |
The three original sensory tiers are retained as an earlier editorial comparison, not a verified current specification for every maker.
Names and origin
The earlier profile names Meitan and says the tea was developed in 1974 to commemorate the Zunyi Conference. A reviewed local research history independently records a 1974 green-tea development by the provincial tea institute, but does not establish every part of the commemorative story. Its Fuding Dabaicha raw-material and more-than-ten-shoots-per-gram account is inherited context, not a universal cultivar or count guarantee for current lots.
Everyday benefits
Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.
Who may enjoy this tea
It may suit someone exploring Zunyi Maofeng through its described flavour and leaf form. Compare an actual packet and complete preparation rather than a historical ranking or medical promise.
When to take care
- Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
- Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.
These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.
How to brew
Original prose: heat-safe glass
The earlier method uses a heat-safe glass, 1:50 tea-to-water ratio and 85–90°C / 185–194°F water. It says to refill when about one-third of the liquid remains, and describes roughly three infusions/refills. It supplies no first steeping time. Keep the retained illustration’s method separate below.
| Detail | Original prose with an explicit ratio example |
|---|---|
| Tea | 3 g Zunyi Maofeng as an editorial arithmetic example |
| Actual water | 150 mL / about 5.1 US fl oz, measured water; 3 g at 1:50 |
| Vessel | Heat-safe glass with room for the leaves and actual water |
| Water temperature | 85–90°C / 185–194°F |
| First drinking infusion | No first steeping time recorded in the prose; follow a complete packet method |
| Refill | At about one-third liquid remaining; refilling is different from a full fresh measured batch |
These inherited directions and explicit ratio examples are awaiting hands-on testing. Nominal vessel capacity and a drawn fill fraction do not measure actual water. Three repeat cups is not a guarantee of equal strength. If leaves remain in the glass, extraction continues; transfer or strain if the cup becomes too strong. Let the drink cool enough to sip.
Read the original illustration separately
The graphic gives 3 g, 80–85°C / 176–185°F and 1:50, implying 150 mL actual water by arithmetic. It names glass or porcelain/white gaiwan, moistens the leaves with a small amount of water, then fills the brewing cup to four-fifths with a gentle wall pour. It separately describes serving tea into cups seven-tenths full and refilling the brew when one-third remains. No discard is specified after moistening, no first steeping time or vessel capacity is supplied, and three infusions are a reference rather than a guarantee. Do not confuse the serving fraction with the brewing fill.
For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.
Adjust your cup
| What you notice | One change to try |
|---|---|
| Too strong, bitter or drying | Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time |
| Weak or watery | Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose |
| Later infusions become stronger | Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves |
| Different from a flavour description | Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup |
Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.
How to buy
Check actual Meitan locality, maker, cultivar or selection, harvest and packet grade. Separate the old commemorative account and historical research product from current specifications and actual batch evidence.
See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Extra grade | 650 | 130 |
| Grade 1 | 450 | 90 |
| Grade 2 | 230 | 46 |
Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.
How to store
Original storage method
The original method places green tea in a closed foil pouch, gently removes excess air, then puts the pouch inside a lidded iron or tin container upright for refrigerated storage, protected from light, moisture and smells. Check that a paper pouch is actually lined and moisture resistant; plain paper alone is not an airtight moisture barrier.
Its general reference was 12 months, with storage below 10°C / 50°F and below 50% relative humidity. It also described a cool, shaded room-temperature option for tea expected to be finished within two months. These are inherited conditions, not a verified expiry or a remaining-life prediction for an opened packet. Follow the actual maker’s label, package and specified conditions first.
In a UK or US kitchen
If following a product’s cold-storage directions, keep the pack sealed against fridge moisture and food smells, and let it warm while still sealed before opening. Keep a working portion away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, sunlight and spices; reseal after use. Do not apply a refrigerator recipe to another tea automatically. See storing an opened packet for handling.
The original green-tea handling note keeps a separate one-to-two-week working portion to avoid repeatedly warming and opening the bulk cold pack. Portion in dry conditions and seal each pack.
Origin, processing and history
The map shows picking, heat fixing, rolling, tightening by rubbing, rolling round, straightening and final sorting/arranging for storage. No separate drying box is drawn. Keep this as an abbreviated making illustration, not proof of a complete production or storage method.
Common questions
Does Zunyi Maofeng mean the same thing as Zunyi Hong?
No. This entry preserves a green-tea profile with heat fixing. Zunyi Hong is discussed separately as black tea. A shared regional name does not override processing.
Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?
Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.
Compare Zunyi Hong, or browse the green tea overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.