Wai Shan Xiao Zhong "A" (Small View from the Outer Mountains)
Chinese tea and Russian tea tradition
Classic red Chinese tea, brought to Russia in the 17th century, became the founder of Russian tea culture. At first, it was expensive and only available to the wealthy classes, but gradually it occupied a niche in the life of almost every resident of the territories now inhabited by Russian-speaking people. A special local tea drinking culture was even formed: lemon, sugar or sweets are served with pronounced smoky, well-baked “black” tea in a cauldron, pies and pastries are served, tea with snacks is drunk for a long time, often in companies. This classic Chinese tea was most likely the Xiao Zhong variety.
Cliff tea without location reference
Wai Shan Xiao Zhong (Chinese: “Small View from the Outer Mountains”) is a tea without a specific geographical indication, it is only known that it belongs to the cliff ones. Unlike Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (Chinese: “Small View from the Real Mountains”), which is grown and produced in places that are optimal for this variety, Wai Shan Xiao Zhongs are teas produced in all other places, so those bought in different years, from different batches or in different places can differ greatly in flavor profile and overall impressions. One way or another, this is always a “fiery”, smoky and sweet tea, cozy and warming, perfect for everyday tea drinking with something tasty on the side.
Appearance and aroma of dry leaf
Wai Shan Xiao Zhong looks quite recognizable: blue-black flagella of twisted leaf have uniform shape and size. Smells like honey and gingerbread spices, smoke. When warmed by breath, notes of rotten foliage, raspberry, dried apple appear in the aroma.
Brewing
Temperature – 90-95 degrees. Tea will turn out well in any way:
- by steeping in a clay teapot (6-7 grams of leaf per 100 ml)
- infusion (2 grams per 250 ml, 3-4 minutes; you can take twice as much leaf and still not get bitterness, but only a particularly rich taste and a double surge of energy and good mood)
- in a thermos (4-5 grams per liter).
This variety is hard to spoil.
Taste and aroma of the infusion
The purple-brown infusion smells of dried raspberries, burnt buns, and something woody. The taste is raspberries, yeast pastries, compote apples, buckwheat honey, bitter smoke, and “fire.” The taste is rough, restrained, but full-bodied, and with a distinct sweetness. A bowl of infusion seems to transport you to a village hut with a Russian stove, and the treats on the table include a sweet bun burnt at the bottom and fresh raspberry jam. The aftertaste is sweetish-woody.
Effect and mood
The tea state is moderately expressed. The tea warms well and gives energy, tones. It is good in the morning, especially in cold or damp weather. It goes well with something unsweetened as a snack, for example, vanilla crackers. A good basic everyday tea with a taste profile familiar from childhood. It will appeal to lovers of budget reds and will be an excellent option for the first step into the world of Chinese tea: it will not surprise, but will not disappoint.
