Green Teas

Chunmee & Wuyuan Mingmei "Eyebrow" Teas

The shape of their processed leaves gives this name to Chunmee (Precious Eyebrow) and several other famous "eyebrow" teas. The beverage this tea produces has a distinct plumlike flavor, and has long been popular abroad.

The plum seems to be prominent in the minds of tea growers of northeastern Jiangxi province's Wuyuan county, for when they began producing a new high-quality green tea in 1950, they called it Mingmei (Famous Plum). It has lived up to its name for fame.

Mingmei is produced from Shangmeizhou (Upper Plum Islet), a fine tea strain whose fat, hairy buds usually emerge quite late. Great skill is used in the second wok firing to achieve the right shape. Temperature, length of time, and hand movements must be well coordinated. The fine, taut, jade green, eyebrow-shaped leaves have been likened to a work of art. The clear, yellowish green beverage has a mellow flavor. Mingmei is also used as a base for scented teas.

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