Product Overview
As one of the most famous rare and precious teas in Jiangxi, it is grown in the Gou-gu-nao Mountain, Tanghu Township, Suichuan County, southern foot of the Luoxiao Mountains.
Gou Gu Nao has tender leaves with a gentle taste. We selected the highest grade of Gu Gou Nao because of its unique fruit-like character that derives from the influence of the high mountains.
The moderate climate, damp air and slightly acidic soil make Luoxiao Mountain a paradise for growing tea and trees. This unique growing condition is responsible for the small size of the Gou Gu Nao tea bushes. The taller trees shield them from summer heat and winter snow, giving Gou Gu Nao tea those tender and delicate leaves. No chemical fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide was used in the production of this tea. This results in a mildly sweet flavor and fruity aroma being transferred into the freshly picked tea.
Gou Gu Nao tea is only harvested once a year - in the spring. Harvest can begin in early March and continue throughout the Spring. Grade is directly related to leaf age. The earlier the harvest, the smaller the tea buds, the higher the grade. Each pick consists of a terminal bud with an adjacent leaf. This tea is sorted by hand, one by one. The sorting process removes any sub standard leaves. A high quality should consist entirely of young tea buds and slightly opened leaves.
The floral infusion opens with subtle hints of pineapple and finishes with sweet, silky cream. In fact tea farmers would plant loquat trees alongside the tea bushes to impart a fruity fragrance on the tea leaves. Each tea bud is carefully plucked to avoid the larger leaves, which impart unwanted astringency and bitterness. The first infusion produced an ethereal, medium-bodied cup, with rich, creamy, slightly fruity flavor. This flavor was elegantly present in the first infusion and tasted invigoratingly fresh. In the second infusion, this characteristic became even fuller, making for a luxuriously rich mouthfeel and hearty polish. The fruity notes became more prominent. The third infusion revealed more change in flavor and the richness took on a slightly woody, soothing characteristic. By the fourth infusion, the leaves’ richness tapered and what remained was a smooth, refreshing green flavor with a lingering peach-like aftertaste.
Brewing Guide: Brew this precious green tea at a low temperature of 170° F to bring out the delicate taste. Use 1 heaping teaspoon for 8oz of water. Steep at 160-170° F for 2-3 minutes. For a stronger flavor, use slightly more tea leaves. For each subsequent brew, steep for at least 1 minute each time.