2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
China has long been famous for its medicine. Traditional healers often use natural resources to make medicinal potions. All kinds of teas play an important role in Chinese medicine. Each individual variety has been carefully studied for its usefulness to humans. "White Monkey" is a tea with multifaceted properties: in addition to its excellent taste, it has a beneficial effect on well-being and prevents the development of certain diseases.
Drink
The history of the drink dates back several centuries, the monks collected it back in the 11th century. It is believed that the "parents" of the variety are the popular local tea bushes Da Khao Cha - tea with villi, and Da Bai Cha - white tea. The product was called Bai Mao Hou (Chinese sound) - "White-haired monkey", or "White monkey". Tea has other translations - "gray-haired monkey" and "monkey with white hair."
He has always been popular in the southeastern part of China, but world fame came to him only at the beginning of the twentieth century. Expert opinions on the variety differ. One group classifies it as a white tea, while another claims it belongs to a green tea.
Quality
"White Monkey" - tea, which, when brewed, acquires a deep, rich golden color. The aroma is floral with a hint of orange sourness. The taste is peculiar, it harmoniously combines fruity notes (a sign of white varieties) and light herbal astringency (this is from green tea). Such an amazing combination of varieties is a feature of Bai Mao Hou.
Leaves, long original spiral shape, in the process of brewing unfold and take the form of small bamboo sticks. A transparent teapot will allow you to watch this curious sight.
Motherland
Green tea "White Monkey" comes from China. More precisely, this is the southeastern part of the country and the northeast of Fujian province. Tea bushes grown on Mount Tai Mu are distinguished by their exceptional quality and unique taste. Fuding District has always been the center of white tea cultivation.
The area of cultivation is located at 2000 meters above sea level. Fertile soils, a humid, mild climate and year-round abundant rainfall create ideal conditions for growing elite varieties of the drink. Incredibly beautiful coastal mountainous area is famous for its crystal clear lakes and cold waterfalls.
Name
"White Monkey" - tea,shrouded in legends. There are several variants of this unusual name:
- This story is almost two thousand years old. The discovery of tea is attributed to ancient monks. The labor-intensive process of collecting raw materials was helped by monkeys. Their nimble little paws did an excellent job with monotonous work. They did it quickly and over a large area. As a sign of gratitude, the monks came up with this name for tea.
- A long time ago, a young Chinese poet, Lan Yuan, got lost in the mountain range of Fujian. A couple of days later, when he ran out of all food supplies, the young man was already desperate to find his way home. Suddenly, in the fog, he saw a snow-white monkey. Looking the young man in the eyes, the animal began to move away. Lan Yuan hurried after him and went out to the tea bush, next to which a path was visible. After the successful completion of the journey, he opened a tea farm. The drink that was produced there, he named after the savior.
- The divine character - the Monkey King - is highly revered in the Middle Kingdom. He is a character in numerous legends, books, films, cartoons. An invincible hero fighting demons. The tea was named after him.
- A slightly prosaic version, due to the similarity of whitish pubescent buds with the appearance of animals, and thin twisted leaves resemble their tails.
Besides, in ancient times, Zhenghe (the province in which the Fujian region is located) was called the Land of the White Monkeys.
Production
The most important thing in working with Bai Mao Hou is to follow two rules: to makecorrect shape and keep whitish villi. The production of the drink combines the technologies of green and white varieties and consists of several stages:
- Collection. Early vegetation (in February) dictates the timing of the collection of raw materials. Pickers have only a couple of weeks to work in March-April. The first stage has its own characteristics. Requirements are made for workers: cleanly washed hands, fresh clothes, do not eat any products with a pungent odor for breakfast, and even more so alcohol. Tender buds absorb any foreign aroma. The action takes place in the early hours of the morning, in clear weather. If it rained before work, it is postponed. They take only young buds covered with a delicate fluff, and two leaves that are not twisted, and they should not be paired or damaged.
- Withering. Immediately after collection, the raw materials are laid out in the open. Before that, each leaf is slightly twisted. On bamboo mats, leaves and buds spread out in a thin layer undergo a weak fermentation for 16-18 hours. The dried leaf softens, silvery villi appear on it. Overexposure is manifested by slight redness, lack of time - by a pronounced dark green color.
- Drying. In order to remove bright greenery, raw materials are subjected to heat treatment. At a temperature of 140-150 ° C, it is first "fried", then "stewed". The process continues until the leaves turn a light dark green.
- Twisting. After cooling, the leaves are twisted. A manual process that requires some skill. Attention is drawn topile preservation. The formation of tea leaves is considered complete when they become swirling.
Before packing, the tea is carefully sorted, removing foreign inclusions, and the White Monkey tea is obtained. Its price is quite high: 10 grams costs from $ 5 and above. Not only manual labor is valued, but also the rarity of tea. On a global scale, it is not produced so much.
Brew
The correct sequence and observance of simple rules during the preparation of the drink will help you fully experience the White Monkey tea. Brewing itself can be a pleasant relaxation.
For proper brewing, adhere to the following requirements:
Dishes. Porcelain gaiwan (a cup with a lid) or glassware is used. In a transparent teapot, you can observe the opening of leaves and buds and control the color of the drink
- Water. Soft boiled water will be optimal. It is cooled to a temperature of 70-80 degrees.
- Raw materials. For one serving of 200 ml, two grams of tea (dessert spoon) is enough.
- Brew. Pour a container of tea with prepared water and drain immediately. It is not customary to drink the first tea leaves, it is needed to rinse, rinse the tea. Raw materials are collected exclusively by hand, and such an action is just a precautionary measure. The next brew is drinkable.
- Infusion time. The first portion is kept for 30 seconds. To each subsequent add 10 seconds. Multiple brewing, one portion is used up to 5 times, will not spoil the White Monkey tea,properties (taste and aroma) will be preserved. If you increase the steeping time, the drink becomes bitter aftertaste.
Thus, there will be a maximum of vitamins in the cup and the unusual taste of the drink and its delicate aroma will fully manifest.
Useful properties
Chinese medicine has used different varieties of tea in its practice since ancient times. The White Monkey tea is no exception. The benefits and harms (user reviews are unanimous) from drinking the following.
Benefit
Tea lovers who have already tried the drink say it is:
- excellent thirst quencher;
- cleanses blood vessels;
- improves digestion;
- strengthens immunity and tooth enamel, preventing caries;
- prevents the formation of cancer;
- removes toxins and other harmful substances.
Harm
When consumed in excess, a drink may not be good, but vice versa:
- cause allergies;
- exacerbate gastritis;
- provoke insomnia;
- increase stomach acidity;
- strengthen tachycardia;
- increase pressure;
- exacerbate urinary tract and kidney disease.
Combination
Tea sommeliers in restaurants are always ready to recommend the best teas. The elite line also includes White Monkey green tea. Useful properties, along with exquisite taste, makedrink is a great addition to any meal. It goes especially well with mashed cauliflower, fried scallops. Tea pairs perfectly with shortbread, fruit dessert, fresh berries, pastry cream, fresh berries.
Recommended:
Green tea Pu-erh: production features, useful properties and contraindications, how to brew properly
In the article, we will mainly describe green pu-erh. Consider its useful properties, as well as contraindications. We will learn how to competently brew Chinese green tea "Shen Puer". And learn a lot of interesting things about him
Green tea - harmful or beneficial? Green tea for the face. Green tea - recipes
For more than one millennium, society has highly appreciated and loved green leaf tea for its rich range of useful properties. This attitude makes you seriously think about whether useful substances are really present in this drink. We will try to answer the question of whether green tea is harmful or beneficial
White tea: useful properties. How to brew white tea
How sometimes you want to enjoy aromatic tea on a cold evening, without hurrying anywhere. For example, arrange a tea ceremony using white tea, the beneficial properties of which have an incomparable effect on the body
How is feijoa useful and for what diseases? Feijoa fruit: useful properties, contraindications, photos and recipes. Feijoa jam: useful properties
When berries similar to gooseberries appeared on store shelves a few years ago, people hesitated to buy them for a long time. But, having figured it out and tried it once, they began to consider them an ordinary fruit, the name of which is feijoa. Over time, it became known that feijoa is useful
How does green tea differ from black tea: useful properties, features of collection and processing, brewing methods
How can different products be obtained from the same tea leaf? What is the difference between green, white, yellow teas, as well as black and red with blue? Our article is devoted to this issue
