Huangshan Hou Kui Giant Leaf Tea
Long, flat leaves unfolding in a tall glass: orchid, sugar snap pea and a long sweet finish.
Houkui is a green tea made to be watched as well as tasted: long, flat, straight leaves from the northern foothills of Huangshan in Anhui. It tastes of orchid, sugar snap pea, bamboo and a rock-sugar sweetness.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 30 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 12.5 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
Related reading
| Brewing method | Tall Glass |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Flat Whole Leaf |
| Water temperature | 176°F / 80°C |
| Target brew time | 2:00-3:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf green tea
- 240 g filtered water at 80°C
Required gear
- Tall, narrow heatproof glass, 250 to 300 ml
- Kettle with temperature control
- Scale
- Timer
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm a tall, narrow glass with hot water and pour it away.
- 0:15Add 2.9 g of leaf to the glass.
- 0:30Pour in a little water at 80°C to wet the leaf, swirl once, then add the rest slowly down the inside wall of the glass, 240 g in all.
- 3:00Watch the leaves unfurl and sink, and start sipping once most have settled. Leave the leaf in the glass.
- 4:00Top up with hot water when about a third of the tea is left. Good leaf gives two or three infusions.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
A number worth knowing
We list about 30 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Glass first
Houkui is a tea to watch. A tall, clear glass shows the long leaves slowly sinking and opening, and it lets you refill before the leaf sits too long.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Houkui is a green tea made to be watched as well as tasted: long, flat, straight leaves from the northern foothills of Huangshan in Anhui. It tastes of orchid, sugar snap pea, bamboo and a rock-sugar sweetness. Brewed in a tall glass at 80°C.
Origin & Story
Houkui is made to be looked at as well as tasted. The leaves are large for a green tea, flat and straight, about 5 to 7 centimeters long, a dark and glossy green, with two leaves wrapped around a single bud.
It is grown on the northern foothills of Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain in Anhui, in villages such as Houkeng, Hougang and Yanjia. Picking begins around Grain Rain, in the third week of April or so, with a fresh batch every three or four days until the start of summer.
Making it takes patience. Typically the shoots are fixed in a barrel-shaped wok at about 110°C, pressed flat and then baked in several stages at falling temperatures, from about 100°C down to 70°C, before a final re-bake. The long, gentle baking is what leaves the leaf flat and dry.
In the cup it is fresh, brisk and mellow with a sweet aftertaste: orchid, sugar snap pea, a hint of bamboo and a rock-sugar sweetness. Use a tall glass, about 3 g of leaf and water at around 80°C, and let it steep for two to three minutes. Refill when about a third of the tea is left. Some guides suggest water as hot as 90°C, which tends to give a brisker, more astringent cup, so start at 80°C and adjust to taste.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 78/100 |
| Acidity | 26/100 |
| Bitterness | 14/100 |
| Body | 54/100 |
| Aroma | 96/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Huangshan Hou Kui Giant Leaf Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 30 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Huangshan Hou Kui Giant Leaf Tea?
Target 80°C (176°F).
How long should Huangshan Hou Kui Giant Leaf Tea be extracted?
Timing: 2:00-3:00. Method: Tall Glass. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Flat Whole Leaf.
How big are Houkui leaves?
Large for a green tea: flat, straight leaves about 5 to 7 centimeters long, with two leaves wrapped around a single bud.
Is Huangshan Houkui the same as Taiping Houkui?
Both names describe houkui tea from the northern foothills of Huangshan, and the traditional name for the original is Taiping Houkui, which has its own page. What a seller calls a tea can vary, so check the label for the village.
Who should avoid Huangshan Hou Kui Giant Leaf Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
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