Green tea "White monkey". "White Monkey" tea: cooking, features and useful properties

China has long been famous for its medicine. People's healers often use natural resources for the manufacture of medicinal potions. All kinds of teas play a role in Chinese medicine. Each individual variety was carefully studied for utility to humans. "White monkey" - tea with many faceted properties: in addition to the magnificent taste, it has a beneficial effect on well-being and prevents the development of certain diseases.

Drink

The history of the drink goes back several centuries, the monks collected it in the 11th century. It is believed that the "parents" of the variety are popular local tea bushes Da Hao 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 monkey" and "monkey with white hair."

He was always popular in the southeast of China, but world fame came to him only in the early twentieth century. The opinions of experts on the variety diverge. One group refers it to white teas, the second says that it belongs to the green.

Qualities

"White monkey" is tea, which, when brewed, acquires a deep, rich golden color. Flavor floral with a hint of sour orange. The taste is peculiar, it harmoniously combines fruit notes (a sign of white varieties) and light herbal tartness (this is from green tea). Such an amazing mix of varieties is a feature of Bai Mao Hou.

Leaflets, long with an original spiral shape, unfold during brewing and take on the appearance of small bamboo sticks. A transparent kettle will allow you to watch this curious spectacle.

Homeland

Green tea "White Monkey" comes from China. More precisely, this is the south-eastern part of the country and the northeast of Fujian. Tea bushes grown on Tai Mu mountain are distinguished by exceptional qualities and unique taste. The Fudin area has always been the center of white tea cultivation.

Territory of cultivation is located at 2000 meters above sea level. Fertile soils, humid, mild climate and year-round abundant precipitation create ideal conditions for growing elite beverage varieties. Incredibly beautiful coastal mountainous region is famous for its crystal clear lakes and cold waterfalls.

Name

"White Monkey" - tea, wrapped in legends. There are several variants of this unusual name:

1. This history is almost two thousand years old. The discovery of tea is attributed to the ancient monks. The labor-intensive process of collecting raw materials was assisted by monkeys. Their clever little paws perfectly coped with the monotonous work. They did it quickly and on a large territory. As a token of gratitude, the monks came up with such a name for tea.
2. Very long time the young Chinese poet Lan Yuan lost his way in the Fujian mountain range. A couple of days later, when he had finished all the provisions, the young man was already desperate to find his way home. Suddenly in the fog he saw a snow-white monkey. Glancing at the young man's eyes, the animal began to move away. Lan Yuan hurried after him and went out to the tea bush, next to which was a path visible. After the successful completion of the journey, he opened a tea house. The drink that was produced there, he named after the savior.
3. The divine character - the King of monkeys - is highly revered in the Celestial Empire. He is a character of numerous legends, books, films, cartoons. Undefeated hero, fighting with demons. In his honor tea has received such a name.
4. A slightly prosaic variant, associated with the similarity of whitish pubescence with the appearance of animals, and thin twisted leaves resemble their tails.

In addition, in remote antiquity, Zhenghe (province in which the Fujian district is located) was called the End of White Monkeys.

Manufacturing

The most important thing in working with Bai Mao Hou is to observe two rules: to make the right shape and keep the whitish villi. The production of the drink combines technology of green and white varieties and consists of several stages:

• Collection. The early vegetation (in February) dictates the timing of the collection of raw materials. For the work of the collectors there is only a couple of weeks in March-April. The first stage has its own characteristics. There are demands for workers: cleanly washed hands, fresh clothes, for breakfast do not eat any products with a pungent smell, and even more so alcohol. Tender kidneys absorb any foreign flavor. The action takes place in the early morning hours, in clear weather. If it was rainy before work, they put it off. Take only a young kidney, covered with a gentle fluff, and two not twisted leaf, and they should not be paired or damaged.
• The wilting. Immediately after collection, the raw materials are laid out under the open sky. Before that, each leaflet is slightly twisted. On bamboo mats, spread out with a thin layer of leaves and buds, pass a weak fermentation for 16-18 hours. The dried leaves soften, silvery villi appear on it. Overexposure manifests a slight reddening, lack of time - a pronounced dark green color.
• Drying. In order to remove the bright greens, the raw material is subjected to heat treatment. At a temperature of 140-150 ° C it is first "fried", then "extinguished". The process continues until the leaves acquire an easy dark green color.
• The twist. After cooling, the leaves are twisted. A manual process that requires a certain skill. Attention is drawn to the preservation of pile. The formation of tea leaves is considered complete when they become swirled.

Before packing, the tea is carefully sorted out by removing extraneous 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 appreciated, but also the rarity of tea. On a world scale, it is not produced so much.

Brewing

The correct sequence and observance of simple rules during the preparation of the drink will help to fully experience the "White Monkey" tea. Brewing itself can be a pleasant relaxation.

For proper welding, the following requirements are met:

• Tableware . Use porcelain gaiwani (a cup with a lid) or glassware. In a transparent teapot, one can observe the opening of leaflets and kidneys and control the color of the drink.

• Water . Optimum is soft boiled water. It is cooled to a temperature of 70-80 degrees.
• Raw material . For one serving per 200 ml, two grams of tea (a dessert spoon) is sufficient.
• Brewing . Pour a prepared container of water with tea and immediately poured. The first brew is not taken to drink, it is needed to rinse, rinse the tea. Raw material is collected exclusively by hand, and this action is simply a precaution. The next brew can be drunk.
• Time of infusion . The first portion is aged for 30 seconds. For each subsequent add 10 seconds. Multiple welding, one serving is used up to 5 times, the "White Monkey" tea will not spoil, the properties (taste and aroma) will be preserved. If you increase the time of infusion, the drink acquires a bitter taste.

Thus, in the cup there will be a maximum of vitamins and the unusual taste of the drink and its delicate aroma will fully manifest itself.

Beneficial features

Chinese medicine since ancient times used in its practice different types of tea. The tea "White Monkey" is not an exception. The benefits and harms (user reviews are unanimous) from the use of the drink are as follows.

Benefit

Tea lovers who have already tried the drink say that he:

• Perfectly quenches thirst;
• Clears the vessels;
• Improves digestion;
• Strengthens the immunity and tooth enamel, preventing the appearance of caries;
• Prevents the formation of cancer;
• Removes toxins and other harmful substances.

Harm

With excessive use of the drink can go not for the good, but on the contrary:

• Cause allergies;
• Exacerbate gastritis;
• Provoke insomnia;
• To increase the acidity of the stomach;
• Strengthen tachycardia;
• Increase the pressure;
• Exacerbate the disease of the urinary tract and kidney.

Combination

Tea sommeliers in restaurants are always ready to advise the best varieties of the drink. To the line of elite also include green tea "White Monkey". Useful properties, along with exquisite taste, make the drink a perfect addition to any meal. Especially well he approaches to a puree from a cauliflower, to the fried scallops. Tea is ideally combined with shortbread cookies, fruit dessert, fresh berries, confectionery cream, fresh berries.