You could almost call this tea a budget friendly Long Jing.
This tea is from She Xian and dates all the way back to the Ming Dynasty where a monk named Da Fang helped pioneer the flat shaped green tea that would later influence Long Jing and Hou Kui.
This tea looks just like Long Jing and in many ways has a similar taste profile. This year we have two Da Fangs, machine made and hand made. It is important to note that the hang made is not necessarily of a higher quality than the machine made, it just has a different flavor.
Machine Made: Crisp and fresh thing Da Fang has a chestnut aroma that is very similar to Long Jing. The body is a little thinner than the hand made but provides a little more complexity in flavor.
Hand Made: Compared to the machine made this tea has a more simple taste profile. Soft round and vegetal like edamame. But where this tea shines is its Body. While the Machine made is a little more flat, the body here is deep, rich and juicy. Super refreshing and long lasting with a clear come back sweetness.