Tea Details
Harvest: 04/10/2025
Region: Tiemazhou Village, Hongshilin Town, Guzhang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Elevation: ~400 m above sea level
Cultivar: Zhuyeqi
Crafting Highlight: Full oxidation + curved strip shaping
Shelf Life: Best within 24 months
Storage Tips: Keep in a cool, dry place away from light and odor
Net Weight: 30g / 1.06oz
From Mountain Village to Teacup
In Tiemazhou, a small village in the mountains of western Hunan, generations of Tujia (土家族）farmers have grown and crafted black tea with deep respect for nature. While modern equipment assists with leaf rolling, each batch is still made in small lots with attention to quality and aroma. The result: gracefully curved strips of black tea that brew into a smooth, honeyed cup.
Gentle Sun Withering
After being freshly picked from the mountains of Guzhang, the tea leaves go through a short sun-withering process, known locally as “摊青.” This gentle sunlight softens the leaves and also plays a key role in shaping the tea’s aroma. It helps convert certain natural compounds—like amino acids and sugars—into aroma precursors. These will later transform into floral and fruity notes, such as linalool (a compound often linked to orchid or stone fruit aromas), and contribute to deeper, warming flavors during oxidation and roasting.
Real Tea. Real People.
This spring harvest scene was taken in Tiemazhou, Guzhang County—where generations of Tujia families gather each year to pick fresh tea leaves by hand. After a long morning in the misty mountain fields, the leaves are weighed on-site. Sometimes, little ones come along too—carried in baskets on their parents’ backs.
Why Zhuyeqi (槠叶齐)?
Zhuyeqi is a traditional tea cultivar native to Guzhang County. Grown at high elevation in clean mountain air, it produces a red tea that’s naturally smooth, sweet, and low in bitterness. Rich in amino acids and soluble sugars, this cultivar gives Guzhan Honey Mist its bright amber liquor, floral aroma, and soft honeyed finish.