Xinyang Maojian, also known as Yu Mao Feng, belongs to the category of green teas and is one of China's Top Ten Famous Teas, as well as a renowned specialty of Henan Province. Its main production areas are in the Shilhe District (formerly Xinyang City), Pingqiao District (formerly Xinyang County), and Luoshan County in Xinyang City. The tea is celebrated for its unique style characterized by its “fineness, roundness, glossiness, straightness, abundant white tips, high fragrance, rich taste, and green infusion color.” Xinyang Maojian is a premium tea, with its high status stemming not only from its advantageous growing conditions and exquisite processing techniques but also from its scarcity and preciousness. With limited annual production, it becomes a sought-after item among tea collectors and enthusiasts. More than just a tea, Xinyang Maojian carries the treasure of traditional Chinese tea culture, offering a taste of its exceptional quality and the allure of tea culture.
The spring harvest of Xinyang Maojian typically begins around late March to early April.
This period marks the primary harvesting season for Xinyang Maojian spring tea, when the tea quality is at its best. Tea farmers usually choose to pick on days with clear weather and suitable Humidity. It's worth noting that the spring harvest time for Xinyang Maojian is slightly later compared to other green tea varieties such as West Lake Longjing and Biluochun, due to its geographical location and climate.
2024 Xinyang Maojian Spring Tea Prices
On April 6, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Xinyang Maojian tea harvest season was held simultaneously across multiple famous tea mountains in the Shilhe District of Xinyang City. At the branch venue on Cheyun Mountain in Dongjihe Town, Shilhe District, an auction was held for the first-picked new tea. After nearly 20 rounds of bidding, 50 pounds of the first-picked tea from Cheyun Mountain sold for 31,000 yuan per pound.
The starting bid for this batch of first-picked spring tea was 10,000 yuan per pound, with bidding increments of 1,000 yuan. Once the auction began, dozens of buyers took turns placing bids, leading to intense competition. After nearly 20 rounds of bidding, a middle-aged man successfully secured the lot.
Reference Prices for 2024 Xinyang Maojian Spring Tea
The prices of Xinyang Maojian vary significantly based on the origin, harvest time, grade, and processing quality.
Pre-Ming Xinyang Maojian: 600 yuan – 3,000 yuan per pound
Pre-Rain Xinyang Maojian: 200 yuan – 1,500 yuan per pound
Post-Rain Xinyang Maojian: 100 yuan – 300 yuan per pound
The standards for picking Xinyang Maojian tea leaves are very strict. Only mature leaves are selected, avoiding young shoots, fish-scale leaves, and fruit. For top-grade Xinyang Maojian, only one bud and one leaf are picked. For Grade 1, one bud and two leaves are picked. For Grade 2, one bud with two to three leaves or two leaves facing each other is picked. For Grade 3, one bud with two to three leaves and some pairs of facing leaves are picked. For Grades 4 and 5, one bud with three leaves and pairs of two to three facing leaves are picked. When you first taste Xinyang Maojian, there is a slight bitterness, but ultimately, the aroma lingers, covering the bitter taste—a characteristic of top-grade Xinyang Maojian. Generally, the cost of picking Xinyang Maojian tea leaves alone can reach 100 to 150 yuan, and when processing costs are added, the total approaches 200 yuan. If you encounter Xinyang Maojian at particularly low prices, be sure to carefully examine its authenticity.