GU ZHANG MAO JIAN
HAIRY TIPS
GREEN TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Guzhang, Hunan, China
Gu Zhang Mao Jian is a refined Chinese green tea from Guzhang area, Hunan province, known for its slender, needle-like leaves covered with fine down. Harvested in early spring, it is produced from young buds and tender leaves, requiring careful hand processing to preserve its clarity and freshness. The infusion is clean and vibrant, offering a balanced profile of fresh vegetal notes, gentle sweetness, and a soft, refreshing finish. MORE
AROMA
Floral, nutty
TASTE
Grassy, nutty, fruity
VARIETY: Hunan Xiao Ye Qun Ti Zhong
HARVEST: Spring (Pre-Qingming) 2025
GREEN TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Guzhang, Hunan, China
Gu Zhang Mao Jian is a refined Chinese green tea from Guzhang area, Hunan province, known for its slender, needle-like leaves covered with fine down. Harvested in early spring, it is produced from young buds and tender leaves, requiring careful hand processing to preserve its clarity and freshness. The infusion is clean and vibrant, offering a balanced profile of fresh vegetal notes, gentle sweetness, and a soft, refreshing finish. MORE
AROMA
Floral, nutty
TASTE
Grassy, nutty, fruity
VARIETY: Hunan Xiao Ye Qun Ti Zhong
HARVEST: Spring (Pre-Qingming) 2025
GREEN TEA is one of the world's most studied and revered beverages for its cultural significance and impressive range of health benefits. Green tea is rich in bioactive compounds and supports both physical and cognitive well-being when consumed regularly and mindfully. Due to the tea leaves' special cultivars, climate, and quality, green tea is rich in amino acids, vitamins, and microelements. The highest-quality green teas are made from spring young buds and leaves, traditionally processed to prevent oxidation and keep the tea leaf in its original chemical composition. Research over the past few decades has discovered that green tea reduces the risk of heart disease, cleans the circulatory system, strengthens blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, lowers blood sugar, prevents the development of cancer cells, and relieves nervous tension.
Learn more about the BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
SEED-GROWN TEA PLANT
This tea refers to a Qunzi Zhong, a "seed-grown tea plant". Unlike cloned or asexually propagated cultivars, which are created by cuttings or grafting from a single "mother" plant, Qunzi Zhong tea trees are grown from seeds. This results in a genetically diverse population of plants. Each seed-grown tea tree is unique, with slightly different characteristics. This genetic variety helps improve the resilience of the tea garden, making it more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Seed-grown trees usually develop stronger and deeper roots than cloned plants, allowing them to draw nutrients and minerals from deeper soil layers, often giving the tea a more complex and rich flavor profile. Qunzi Zhong represents the traditional way of tea cultivation. Because of the genetic diversity, teas made from Qunzi Zhong plants tend to offer more layered and nuanced flavors, reflecting a richer expression of the local terroir (soil, climate, and environment).
PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Pesticide-free gardening refers to a cultivation method in which no synthetic chemical pesticides are used at any stage of plant growth. Instead, this approach relies on biodiversity, ecological balance, and cultural practices to manage pests and diseases. Unlike conventional farming, which often depends on chemical intervention to control infestations, pesticide-free gardening emphasizes prevention through healthy soil, companion planting, and natural predators. This method fosters a more resilient and adaptive garden ecosystem. Without chemical inputs, beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and native bees thrive, contributing to pollination and pest control. Untouched by harsh agents, the soil remains alive with microbial activity, supporting deeper root systems and more vigorous plant development. Over time, this results in produce with purer, more expressive flavors, reflecting the health of the environment and the grower's intention.
Learn more about Pesticide-Free Gardening
EASTERN (PIN CHA) ★
Temperature: 75-85 °C
Amount: 3-5 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 20-40 sec x 5+
WESTERN (INFUSION) ★
Temperature: 75-85 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 3
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture. This type of tea oxidizes when it comes into contact with oxygen and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
ABOUT
Mao Jian, meaning “Hairy Tips,” is a traditional Chinese green tea celebrated for its slender, down-covered leaves and elegant balance of freshness, aroma, and sweetness. The most renowned variety, Xinyang Mao Jian from Henan Province, is considered one of China’s Top Ten Famous Teas. Grown in the misty mountains of southern Henan, the tea benefits from a humid climate, fertile soil, and moderate altitude that promote slow leaf growth and rich, layered flavor. Its history spans over two millennia, with records of Mao Jian being offered as tribute to emperors during the Tang and Ming dynasties. The tea is crafted from tender buds and young leaves, hand-picked and pan-fired to preserve their vivid green color and delicate fragrance.
The tea has a long historical presence in the region, with references to local tea production appearing in early Chinese records. Over time, it developed as a recognized regional specialty, and in the modern era it has received official geographical protection along with defined production standards. Today, Gu Zhang Mao Jian represents a continuation of traditional mountain tea cultivation, where environmental conditions, cultural heritage, and precise seasonal harvesting remain central to its identity.
ORIGIN
Guzhang County lies in the northwest of Hunan Province, within the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is a land of steep mountains, deep valleys, and abundant rivers, where tea cultivation has existed for centuries. The humid subtropical climate, annual temperature of about 16 °C, and mineral-rich soils create ideal conditions for tea growth. The region is home to the Guzhang Red Stone Forest National Geopark, a remarkable landscape of red karst formations dating back hundreds of millions of years. This geological richness extends to the soil, enriching the tea plants with trace minerals that enhance depth and sweetness in the cup. The ethnic diversity of the area, with Tujia and Miao communities preserving traditional agricultural and craft practices, also adds cultural value to the local tea heritage. Recognized as a National Geographical Indication Product since 2007, Gu Zhang Mao Jian is protected for its authenticity and connection to this unique mountain environment.
An important aspect of this terroir is the prevalence of traditional seed-grown tea populations, rather than uniform clonal cultivars. This genetic diversity enhances the interaction between plant and environment, leading to a more layered and less standardized flavor profile, where the influence of soil, climate, and local ecosystem is clearly reflected in the final cup.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf of Mao Jian is composed of slender, slightly curved leaves of deep green color with silvery tips, covered by fine down. The aroma is bright and fresh, with notes of green bean, chestnut, and wildflowers, evoking the cool air of spring mountains. When placed in a preheated teapot, the fragrance deepens, revealing soft sweetness and warm tones of roasted nuts, tender herbs, and young bamboo. The aroma becomes round and clean, showing both freshness and warmth.
The infusion is clear and bright, light golden-green in color. Its aroma combines vegetal and floral notes with a touch of chestnut and gentle umami. In taste, Mao Jian is smooth and refreshing, with lively texture and natural sweetness. The liquor opens with fresh grassy notes, developing into nutty and slightly fruity tones. A light, pleasant astringency adds clarity and structure. The aftertaste is long and pure, leaving a gentle sweetness and cooling sensation on the palate.
Mao Jian, meaning “Hairy Tips,” is a traditional Chinese green tea celebrated for its slender, down-covered leaves and elegant balance of freshness, aroma, and sweetness. The most renowned variety, Xinyang Mao Jian from Henan Province, is considered one of China’s Top Ten Famous Teas. Grown in the misty mountains of southern Henan, the tea benefits from a humid climate, fertile soil, and moderate altitude that promote slow leaf growth and rich, layered flavor. Its history spans over two millennia, with records of Mao Jian being offered as tribute to emperors during the Tang and Ming dynasties. The tea is crafted from tender buds and young leaves, hand-picked and pan-fired to preserve their vivid green color and delicate fragrance.
The tea has a long historical presence in the region, with references to local tea production appearing in early Chinese records. Over time, it developed as a recognized regional specialty, and in the modern era it has received official geographical protection along with defined production standards. Today, Gu Zhang Mao Jian represents a continuation of traditional mountain tea cultivation, where environmental conditions, cultural heritage, and precise seasonal harvesting remain central to its identity.
ORIGIN
Guzhang County lies in the northwest of Hunan Province, within the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is a land of steep mountains, deep valleys, and abundant rivers, where tea cultivation has existed for centuries. The humid subtropical climate, annual temperature of about 16 °C, and mineral-rich soils create ideal conditions for tea growth. The region is home to the Guzhang Red Stone Forest National Geopark, a remarkable landscape of red karst formations dating back hundreds of millions of years. This geological richness extends to the soil, enriching the tea plants with trace minerals that enhance depth and sweetness in the cup. The ethnic diversity of the area, with Tujia and Miao communities preserving traditional agricultural and craft practices, also adds cultural value to the local tea heritage. Recognized as a National Geographical Indication Product since 2007, Gu Zhang Mao Jian is protected for its authenticity and connection to this unique mountain environment.
An important aspect of this terroir is the prevalence of traditional seed-grown tea populations, rather than uniform clonal cultivars. This genetic diversity enhances the interaction between plant and environment, leading to a more layered and less standardized flavor profile, where the influence of soil, climate, and local ecosystem is clearly reflected in the final cup.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf of Mao Jian is composed of slender, slightly curved leaves of deep green color with silvery tips, covered by fine down. The aroma is bright and fresh, with notes of green bean, chestnut, and wildflowers, evoking the cool air of spring mountains. When placed in a preheated teapot, the fragrance deepens, revealing soft sweetness and warm tones of roasted nuts, tender herbs, and young bamboo. The aroma becomes round and clean, showing both freshness and warmth.
The infusion is clear and bright, light golden-green in color. Its aroma combines vegetal and floral notes with a touch of chestnut and gentle umami. In taste, Mao Jian is smooth and refreshing, with lively texture and natural sweetness. The liquor opens with fresh grassy notes, developing into nutty and slightly fruity tones. A light, pleasant astringency adds clarity and structure. The aftertaste is long and pure, leaving a gentle sweetness and cooling sensation on the palate.
GREEN TEA
Explore more Green Teas from the AN SHIM TEA Collection.