Heirloom Green Tea is an example of Huangshan Mao Feng, one of China’s top 10 famous teas. The hand-plucked leaves are oven dried and very gently handled during processing, resulting in beautiful leaves that retain their natural shape (one bud, two leaves) and a very mild, fresh taste with no hint of bitterness or astringency. The flavor is lightly sweet and floral, making it a very easy-drinking tea for any time of day.
What is heirloom tea?
Heirloom tea bushes are descended from wild tea trees and retain their natural genetic diversity. Because of this, heirloom teas tend to have more complex and nuanced flavors than teas made from homogenous strains and can vary in flavor considerably year-to-year. Our Heirloom Green Tea was harvested in Early April 2025 and was produced by master tea maker Wang Huizhou. You can read more about Mr. Wang and his father, Wang Fangsheng, here.
Brewing Guidelines
Brew green tea with water below boiling temperature to minimize harshness or bitterness.
Heat 8 oz of filtered water to a boil and cool to 185 °F (85 °C) by pouring into a cool glass and letting it sit for a few minutes. Alternatively, use a kettle with a temperature selection option to heat only to 185 °F.
Pour water over 2 g (about 1 Tablespoon) tea and steep 3 – 4 minutes. Adjust time and amount of tea depending on desired strength.
Always use filtered or spring water to fully enjoy the taste of your tea. For best results, brew using a teapot with a removable filter that allows the leaves to unfurl completely. Avoid tea balls/eggs or other infusers that compress the tea leaves.
The tea leaves can be re-steeped multiple times, increasing the steeping time slightly for each infusion. Notice the different flavors that emerge with each steeping.
Cold Brew
Heirloom Green Tea makes a light and refreshing cold brew tea. Cold infusion enhances the tea’s natural fruit flavors and results in a lower-caffeine tea. To make it, cover 8 g of tea with 4 – 5 cups of cool water and leave in the refrigerator overnight. If you forget about your tea, don’t worry – it won’t get bitter with longer cold extraction times.
Storing Tea
Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from strong odors, moisture, and light. We do not recommend storing tea in clear containers (such as glass jars) as light can affect the shelf life of tea.
Green tea should be consumed within 1 - 2 years of purchase for optimal flavor.