Taiping Houkui: The King of Green Teas with the Soul of an Orchid
Long, flat, and strikingly elegant—Taiping Houkui (太平猴魁) doesn’t just stand out. It commands attention. This famous Chinese green tea from the misty peaks of Anhui Province looks like no other tea in the world. Its leaves are tall and sword-like, its aroma is floral and pure, and its taste… like spring water drifting through an orchid garden.
If Dragon Well is a philosopher and Anji Baicha a dancer, then Taiping Houkui is a mountain poet—calm, graceful, and full of quiet strength.
What Is Taiping Houkui?
Taiping Houkui (pronounced Tài píng hóu kuí) is grown in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui Province, near the town of Taiping. The name means “Monkey King from Taiping”, drawing on folklore and the area's unique terroir.
Its most striking feature is its size—each leaf can be over 7 centimeters long. Carefully pressed flat between mesh screens during processing, the leaves retain their full length and structure, appearing like blades of jade.
But it’s not just a pretty face. Taiping Houkui is known for:
- Low bitterness and high clarity
- Elegant orchid aroma
- Long-lasting sweetness and smooth body
This is a tea that looks majestic, smells divine, and tastes like clean spring rain.
Taste: Orchid, Sugar Cane, and Fresh Bamboo
Brew it gently and you’ll be greeted with a scent of wild orchids, fresh grass, and a hint of sugarcane. The flavor is remarkably smooth—light, yet full; floral, but not perfumy.
Each sip offers:
Orchid sweetness
A whisper of bamboo or green bean
A cooling, mineral-rich finish
There’s no bitterness, no harshness—just purity and poise. The Qi is uplifting but peaceful, like stepping into a misty forest after a light rain.
Brewing Tips for the King of Green Tea
Because of its unique shape and delicacy, Taiping Houkui deserves a mindful brew:
- Water temperature: 75–80°C (167–176°F)
- Teaware: Tall glass cup or glass pot to admire the dancing leaves
- Method: Drop the leaves gently into the warm water—watch them stand, float, and fall like falling feathers
- Leaf amount: 2–3g per 100ml
- Infusions: 2–3 longer steeps, or one grand infusion to savor slowly
This tea is a visual meditation. Don’t rush it.
When to Drink It
Late morning or early afternoon, when you want clarity without caffeine overload
Before or after meditation, to center the mind and body
In nature, or when you wish you were
As a gift, it’s impressive and poetic—perfect for tea lovers and aesthetes alike
Taiping Houkui is the emperor of elegance in the world of green tea—tall, composed, and incredibly refined. It is a tea of beauty and balance, grown in one of China’s most revered mountain regions, and crafted with a patience that modern life rarely permits.
When you sip it, you don’t just drink tea. You drink a moment of spring stillness, wrapped in orchid scent and carried on mountain air.
Steep it slowly. Watch the leaves dance. And let Taiping Houkui remind you how graceful simplicity can be.