Meng Ding Huang Ya

One of the classic yellow teas. Top quality only from buds, with very beautiful dark yellow-black bamboo leaf shape, similar to Zhu Ye Qing, processed as Zhenxingcha (needle leaf tea).

Like other yellow teas, Mengding Huangya is nowadays usually produced very green and can hardly be distinguished from green teas.

It was traditionally processed as yellow tea, i.e. through traditional Menhuang - "humid/sticky yellowing", lasting at least 96 hours. The leaves are packed for about 24 hours at a time and fermented at high humidity and about 40°C, with more heat added in between depending on the condition and changes that have taken place. This whole process is difficult to control (the tea can suffocate and thus break) and very labour-intensive. Finally, the tea was roasted or dried three times over charcoal.



Mengding is probably the oldest tea-growing area that is not wild, i.e. planted by humans.