Monkey Picked

The name “Monkey Picked” originates from a legend claiming that tea trees growing on the edges of cliffs were too dangerous for farmers to harvest, so they trained monkeys to pluck the leaves instead. However, as far as we know, this story is purely fictional.

Monkey King Tea, known as Tai Ping Hou Kui in Chinese, hails from the regions near Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province, an area famous for producing several renowned green teas, including Huang Shan Mao Feng and the legendary Liu An Melon Seed Tea. The finest Tai Ping Hou Kui is grown in the villages of Houkeng, Hougang, and Yanjiachun at the foot of Yellow Mountain, where the tradition of producing loose green teas dates back over a century.

This tea stands out from other green teas because, typically, the larger and more tender the leaves, the better the quality is considered.

The processing of Tai Ping Hou Kui differs from other green teas. After a brief wok-firing phase known as Shaqing, the leaves are folded, pressed, and arranged in drawers. These drawers are then placed in a heated oven, where they are moved to adjust the temperature. The leaves are baked at gradually decreasing temperatures before being laid flat and pressed for final drying. Unlike other green teas, they undergo no additional rolling.

Hou Kui is an exceptionally delicate tea that must be stored under ideal conditions to prevent it from darkening and losing its vibrancy and aroma. It is crucial to keep this tea in an airtight container.