Experience the Legendary Flavor of China’s Renowned High-Mountain Tea
Key Benefits
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Authentic High-Mountain Origin: Sourced from the core production areas of Taiping, Huangshan, China, where high elevation, abundant mist, and large day-night temperature differences create exceptional tea quality.
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Handcrafted “One Knife, Two Swords (一刀两剑)” Technique: Each leaf is hand-picked and carefully shaped using the traditional method to ensure wide, flat, and straight tea leaves with visible white tips.
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Rare Early Spring Harvest: Picked around the Gu Yu period, only a few weeks in spring produce the tender one-bud-two-leaf shoots, ensuring optimal aroma and taste.
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Distinctive Flavor Profile: Elegant orchid aroma with subtle chestnut and bean notes, refreshing and smooth, with a lasting sweet aftertaste and clear, bright yellow-green liquor.
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Cultural & Collectible Value: Not only a premium daily tea but also a collectible with rich historical significance dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1890–1908).
Story Behind the Tea
Born in the misty highlands of Huangshan during the Qing Dynasty, Taiping Houkui (Taiping Monkey King Tea, 太平猴魁) has been treasured by tea enthusiasts for over a century. Its name, inspired by the playful monkeys in the mountains, reflects the tea’s lofty, wide, and majestic leaves. Passed down through generations of skilled tea farmers from the Zhang, Liu, and Yan families, each leaf is carefully hand-picked in early spring, meticulously processed through pan-firing, shaping, and low-temperature roasting. The traditional “One Knife, Two Swords” shaping technique ensures leaves remain broad, straight, and aromatic, delivering a visually striking and flavorful brew. Every cup captures the essence of Huangshan’s natural beauty, centuries of artisanal craftsmanship, and the refined culture of Anhui tea.
Specifications
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Type: Green Tea (Taiping Houkui – Special & First Grade)
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Origin: Huangshan, Anhui Province, China (Taiping Core Region: Houkeng, Hougang, Yanjia Source)
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Harvest: Early Spring, around Gu Yu (late April – early May)
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Grade: Special & First Grade, Early Spring Harvest
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Appearance: Wide, flat, and straight leaves with visible white tips; leaves are well-shaped and visually striking, reflecting traditional “One Knife, Two Swords” handcrafting.
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Flavor: Fresh and mellow with a smooth, sweet aftertaste; elegant orchid aroma with subtle chestnut and bean notes; tea liquor is clear, bright yellow-green, and retains flavor over multiple infusions.
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Packaging: Sealed foil pouch to ensure long-lasting freshness
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Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from light and strong odors; best consumed within 18 months of opening
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Brewing: See our guide to brewing green tea perfectly
Grade Comparison – Taiping Houkui
Taiping Houkui is available in Premium (特级) and First Grade (一级), each offering a distinct experience.
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Premium Grade features exceptionally wide, flat, and straight leaves with prominent white tips, shaped meticulously using the traditional “One Knife, Two Swords” technique. Its flavor is highly refined, with elegant and long-lasting orchid fragrance, a smooth mellow taste, subtle chestnut and bean notes, and a pronounced sweet aftertaste, making it rare and highly collectible.
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First Grade, while still hand-picked from tender one-bud-two-leaf shoots during the Gu Yu period, has slightly narrower and less uniform leaves with a gentler orchid aroma, a smooth and refreshing taste, and a light sweet aftertaste, offering an authentic high-mountain tea experience that is more accessible for daily drinking or gifting.
| Feature / Grade |
Premium (特级) |
First Grade (一级) |
| Appearance |
Exceptionally wide, flat, straight leaves; prominent white tips |
Slightly narrower, less uniform; visible white tips |
| Aroma |
Elegant, long-lasting orchid fragrance |
Noticeable but milder orchid fragrance |
| Flavor |
Smooth, mellow, layered with chestnut & bean notes; pronounced sweet aftertaste |
Smooth, refreshing; gentle sweet aftertaste; light nutty undertones |
| Harvest & Rarity |
Early spring Gu Yu shoots; extremely limited, collectible |
Early spring Gu Yu shoots; more abundant, suitable for daily drinking |
| Experience |
High-end tea connoisseurs; premium gifting, or collecting |
Daily enjoyment, gifting, or collectors seeking quality tea |
Why Choose This Tea?
Sourced from the core production areas of Taiping, Huangshan—including Houkeng, Hougang, and Yanjia Source—our Taiping Houkui is produced by Ruikui Tea Factory 瑞魁茶厂, a family-run workshop with three generations of tea-making history. The factory is located in Huangshan’s prime high-mountain tea region, where abundant mist and large day-night temperature differences create ideal conditions for high-quality tea. Each leaf is hand-picked by experienced tea artisans, shaped using the traditional “One Knife, Two Swords” technique, and carefully roasted to preserve its natural orchid aroma and smooth, mellow flavor. We have collaborated with Ruikui Tea Factory for over 8 years, ensuring every batch maintains the authentic high-mountain quality, wide and flat leaves, visible white tips, and rich, layered taste. Compared to ordinary Taiping Houkui, our tea delivers superior appearance, aroma, flavor, and cultural authenticity, making it perfect for daily enjoyment, gifting, or collecting.
👉 Indulge in the legendary taste of authentic Taiping Houkui Green Tea—experience its refined aroma, smooth flavor, and historical legacy. Order now to secure your premium spring harvest before it’s gone!
