Mengding Yellow Bud is produced in Mount Mengding, Sichuan Province, China, and belongs to the yellow tea category. It is known for its straight, flat appearance, and when brewed, the tea soup displays a yellowish-green color with a sweet and mellow taste. Mengding Yellow Bud is considered a top-tier yellow tea.
Mengding Yellow Bud: A Premium Yellow Tea from Mengding Mountain
Mengding Yellow Bud originates from Mount Mengding in Ya’an City, Sichuan Province, a famous tea-producing region for over 800 years. In ancient times, Mengding tea was reserved exclusively for the emperor.
As one of China’s famous teas, Mengding Yellow Bud is meticulously crafted. Only the finest one bud or one bud and one leaf are used, making the production process extremely demanding. To create the highest-grade Mengding Yellow Bud, around 40,000 tea buds are required. Due to the labor-intensive process, the price for 500 grams often exceeds 600 USD, reflecting its high value.
Production Process
Spring is the best time to produce Mengding Yellow Bud, especially in late March when the tea buds are of the highest quality. Harvesting follows strict standards, with only one bud and one leaf or the top-grade bud being picked. Tea affected by rain or pests is not harvested. After harvesting, the tea leaves are left to rest before undergoing a series of intricate production steps.
The process includes panning (using high heat to roast the leaves), wrapping the tea leaves in paper (to promote probiotic fermentation), a second round of panning, another wrapping, resting, and baking. During the first panning, the temperature is maintained at around 100°C for 5 minutes until the moisture content drops to 55%. The leaves are then wrapped and rested for about 50 minutes before the second panning, where the temperature is kept at 70°C until the moisture content decreases to 45%. After another wrapping and 24 hours of resting, the tea turns yellow with a rich aroma, and the final drying completes the process.
Traditional Mengding Yellow Bud has the characteristic flat and straight shape with visible white hairs on the buds and a sweet fragrance. When brewed, it has a fresh, smooth taste with a lingering sweetness.
Brewing Mengding Yellow Bud
When brewing Mengding Yellow Bud, it is recommended to use a transparent cup to observe the changes in the tea soup. The best water quality is spring or mineral water, with the water temperature maintained at around 80°C. The tea-to-water ratio should be controlled at 1:50, meaning 2 grams of Mengding Yellow Bud per 100 milliliters of water. The first infusion should steep for about 4 minutes, with subsequent infusions increasing by 1 minute each.