"Beng Shan" is one of the four famous Anxi Oolong varieties along with Tie Guanyin, Mao Xie and Huang Jin Gui. It is known since the Qing Dynasty and it is described in "Anxi Tea Reference" in 1937: "This tea was produced for the first time in 1870 under the name Yuan Xing". "Yuan Xing" means "Awaking Circle". In English this name sounds a bit strange, but the tea farmers considered it quite normal. "Circle" comes due to round shape of the tea leaves compared with other varieties. "Awaking" comes due to tonic effect. Tea bushes "Yuan Xing" are grown near the Ben Shan Mountains. Another name for the mountain is Yao Yang, so sometimes this tea variety is called this title. This tea bush finally confirmed with the name "Ben Shan" in 1984. So Ben Shan is considered as the best tea variety by the National Commission and is defined for agricultural cultivation. The specific features of the Ben Shan varieties are small, rounded leaves and lighter floral bouquet of brewed tea in comparison with other Anxi varieties. "Ben Shan Mao Cha" is the fully ready product, but it has not processed with the last step when the tea "balls" are sorted by size and stems are cut.
The dried tea consists of large, glossy, hemispherical nodules of bright emerald-green, pistachio and yellow tones with brown and yellow stems. The aroma is intense, herbal and floral. The clear liquor is light golden-green.
The bouquet of brewed tea is fresh, bright, round, herbal, floral, with a woody, berry and honey notes. The taste is thick, mild, buttery, distinctly sweet, with a slight acidity. The delicious floral flavor. Juicy, long lasting, refreshing aftertaste.
Ben Shan is brewed with hot boiled water of 95 ° C in the Yixing teapot for light oxidized oolong or in gaiwan. You can smell the lid of gaiwan during the brewing and enjoy the amazing flavor of essential oils. Take 6-7 grams of tea leaves per 100 ml vessel. Make quick infusions (just a few seconds) and increase the infusion time gradually. It goes 9-10 infusions.
This is classic ceremonial Anxi oolong. It is bright, friendly, and prompts the communication. It has mild tonic, concentrating and positive effect. It gives a feeling of purity, lightness and spring awakening.
