2026 Xiaohuangtian

• 200-300 year old trees
• 2026 Spring first pick
• Produced by Yinji
• Too much Huangpian, sold at cost

• Wrapper design by moriz.work

Yinji has been sourcing teas from Xiaohuangtian for over twenty five years and they made this tea from 200-300 year old trees across their two plots in the village. The trees are scattered through the forest, which is weeded and harvested once a year in spring. This tea comes from the first (and only) harvest in spring.

Xiaohuangtian is an isolated environment: it has never had electricity, it has been uninhabited since 2018 when it got its first road (which remains unpaved). It is in the middle of the mountains surrounded by forest over the ridge from Nuowu. In fact, it is the most remote tea village on Dongbanshan.

Xiaohuangtian shares less in common with typical Dongbanshan teas to the south (Zhengqitang, Baihuashu, Banuo) and more in common with Bingdao teas to the north: it is sweet, clear, and complex. In comparison with nearby Nuowu, Xiaohuangtian has lower astringency and bitterness while retaining depth, thickness and fragrance (flowers and wet forest). Xiaohuangtian feels like an Yiwu tea, in contrast to the more Menghai-coded Nuowu.

This year's Xiaohuangtian was picked too late and, as a result, the leaves are a bit too big and there's a bit too much huangpian. While concealing this information is not an option, holding back the tea is not a good option either: it remains tasty and interesting. Instead, it is offered at cost.