Mei Zhan 2022 No.528

Mei Zhan (梅占 – plum scent) is a medium roasted rock-tea (岩茶, yancha) from the Wuyi mountains. With its intensive fragrance of prunes, it stands out from other varieties in the region. It has a mild, slightly sweet floral taste with notes of fresh plums. It has a surprisingly smooth and long-lasting aftertaste.

Wuyi teas have two major idiosyncrasies: First, they are plucked only during Spring, and second, they are baked multiple times: at harvest time, then once again a half year later.

The Wuyi Mountains are situated in Fujian Province, China. With its more than a thousand-year-old history of tea cultivation, and approximate 200 different varieties of the tea plant (Camelia sinensis) the area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mountain’s volcanic nature reappears in the character of the tea: fiery, vitalizing ambiance and strong chaqi.

Steamed gaiwan: fruits, plum jam, and a hint of smoke
Tastes, feeling: Rounded sweetness, amber-like notes, a mix of dried fruits, and a lot of plum. It has a nice feeling, which reminds us of the wine’s minerality. Later, some caramel, cinnamon, and nice green flavors come. The effect is really stable, we feel ready to act.

Quantity:5-6 grams per 150 ml.
Water temperature: 95ºC. From fresh spring water or filtered water.
Brewing time:3-5-7…seconds
Infusions: 6-8