Huoshan Huangya Premium Yellow Tea

Huoshan Huangya – Yellow Bud Tea from Huoshan (霍山黄芽)

Rare Yellow Tea from the Misty Peaks of Anhui, China

A tea of soft light and quiet patience.

Huoshan Huangya (霍山黄芽), or “Yellow Buds of Huoshan,” is a rare and refined yellow tea from the Dabie Mountains of Anhui Province. Crafted only in small quantities, it is made from tender buds and young leaves harvested early in spring. The tea undergoes a unique slow-curing process known as “sealed yellowing” (闷黄)—allowing the leaves to mellow, soften, and develop a signature sweet, floral warmth distinct from green tea.

Once revered as a tribute tea during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Huoshan Huangya remains one of China’s most prized and elegant yellow teas, celebrated for its soft golden liquor, silky body, and gentle aftertaste.

If you'd like to know what drinking this tea is like, you can read this: Huoshan Huangya - A Sip of Sunlight.

Why You’ll Love Huoshan Huangya

• Rare Chinese yellow tea with over 1,000 years of history
• Smooth, sweet, and mellow—no bitterness or sharp edges
• Notes of orchid, chestnut, and warm hay
• A beautiful choice for those seeking gentle clarity and calm energy
• Traditional hand-crafted slow yellowing process

Tasting Notes

• Aroma of orchid, pine nut, and wild grass
• Smooth body with notes of bean, warm straw, and toasted sweetness
• Clean and slightly creamy texture
• Lingering floral–mineral finish with calming Qi

Tea Profile

• Type: Yellow Tea (黄茶)
• Cultivar: Local small-leaf Huoshan variety
• Origin: Jinji Mountain, Huoshan County, Anhui Province, China
• Elevation: 600–1,000 meters
• Harvest: Early spring (pre-Qingming)
• Craftsmanship: Bud-leaf plucking, pan-firing, sealed yellowing (闷黄), drying
• Appearance: Slender, yellow-green buds with silvery hairs; pale gold liquor
• Collected: 2025

Processing

Huoshan Huangya is produced using traditional yellow tea methods, blending green tea freshness with mellow warmth:

1. Plucking – One bud with one or two tender leaves
2. Fixation (Shaqing) – Light pan-firing to halt oxidation
3. Sealed Yellowing (闷黄) – Leaves are gently piled and lightly steamed, allowing the aroma and sweetness to deepen
4. Drying – Low heat drying preserves fragrance and soft character

More about Yellow tea and its production and Why is Yellow Tea so rare?

This slow, quiet transformation creates a tea of subtle depth and lasting elegance.

Health Benefits

Yellow tea is gentle on the stomach and rich in calming compounds:

• High in amino acids and low in bitterness
• Supports mental clarity and emotional balance
• Rich in antioxidants, chlorophyll, and polyphenols
• Promotes gentle digestion and inner lightness

Brewing Instructions

Gongfu Method (5 oz / 150 ml)

• Tea amount: 4–5 grams
• Water temperature: 75–80°C / 167–176°F
• Rinse: Optional
• Infusions:
• 1st: 30–40 sec
• 2nd: 45–60 sec
• 3rd+: Increase as flavor lightens
• Tip: Use a glass or porcelain vessel to admire the color and aroma

Cup Method (8.8 oz / 250 ml)

• Tea amount: Adjust based on personal preference for tea strength.
• Water temperature: 75°C / 167°F
• Steep time: 2–3 minutes
• Re-steep: 2–3 times
• Note: Let the buds float and slowly sink—the “Yellow Bud Dance”

Cultural Significance

Huoshan Huangya was once reserved for emperors, highly prized for its purity and healing properties. Today, it remains one of the least-produced but most respected teas in China—known not only for its rarity, but for its ability to convey quiet harmony and golden clarity.

The “sealed yellowing” technique is rarely practiced outside Anhui, making this tea a true representative of regional craftsmanship and slow tradition.

To drink Huoshan Huangya is to taste stillness made visible.