Chaofeng Hyson Green Tea

Chaofeng Hyson Green Tea, sometimes known as Dragon Tea, uses young leaves (instead of the traditional old to medium leaves) found below the new growing shoots at the top of the tea bush. During processing, the green tea leaves are rolled and twisted into shape. The flavour is light and fresh and, as the description of Hyson green tea indicates, is full of new spring green tea character.

Background to Hyson Green Tea

Chaofeng Hyson Green Tea comes from a particular tea garden in Anhui Province, China and is much better than most young Hyson. Hyson means "Flourishing Spring," and this variety has the fresh, green taste you would expect from a springtime tea. Traditionally, old to middle leaves (those below the new shoots at the top of the bush) make Hyson teas. The leaves are rolled, twisted, and sometimes made into a shape that looks like a clam. The word "young" was added to the name to show that the tea is made from young leaves (new shoots) and is of better quality and taste. In the 1700s, this tea was so popular that the British Tea Tax was higher than other teas.

A little tea history!

The first tea imports into England in the mid-1600s were very popular. The government of the day quickly realised the impact of such popularity and put taxes on tea that stayed in place until the late 1700s. With all the taxes on tea and even more for a Chaofeng Hyson Green Tea, people tried lots of different ways to avoid paying taxes. The servants in the homes of the wealthy would dry the old leaves and sell them again. Other shady people would use leaves from trees like beech and hawthorn to "cut" the tea. In the mid-1700s, smuggling China tea into England peaked, with frequent shipments from France and Belgium landing in Cornwall. Both the East India Company and the chancellor of the Exchequer knew how much money they were losing. They knew that only a big tax cut would make legal tea imports compete with illegal tea. Finally, in 1784 following the passing of the Commutation Act, the government made tax cuts on tea.