CHUNMEE TAIPAN SUPERIOR

For those of us who aren’t familiar with the phrase, Chunmee Taipan Superior is a type of Chinese green tea. It is named after its distinctively curved and twisted leaf shape, which resembles the eyebrow of a Taipan, a venomous snake found in southern China. “Taipan” refers to the foreign merchants who worked in China and Hong Kong in the nineteenth century. Exciting new trade routes, patriotism as land was claimed for Taiwan’s monarch and queen, and rapid accumulation of enormous fortunes on the borders of international commerce all contributed to the high standard of living enjoyed by Taipei residents at the time. This ancient world produced the excellent green tea known as Chunmee Taipan Superior.

Like any prosperous businessman, the ancient Chinese Taiping’s appreciated fine dining, wine, and equestrian pursuits. Likely, they were responsible for the rise of the luxury goods industry in Asia. The first “luxury” tea reminiscent of the West was produced by a tea grower in Hunan Province. This tea expert reasoned that Taipans must have sophisticated preferences because of their high standards of quality. It was essential that his tea be mellow and sugary. He inferred the Taipans appreciated aesthetics from their apparent fondness for Eastern art. Therefore, the leaf design needs to be subtle and graded consistently. He realised that undervaluing his new tea would send the wrong message to potential customers. Tea was far more expensive than other items he sold. His wife probably still thinks he’s crazy, but the first shipment to Hong Kong was a huge success. Tai-Pan businessmen liked it so much that they started stocking up on it along with their Cuban cigars, caviar, and Cognac.

Even though the old Taipei is long gone, this excellent tea is here to stay. This tea, which is still made using traditional methods, features a beautiful, emerald-green leaf that, when steeped, yields a light, yellow-green brew. The cup is pleasantly sugary, with a hint of green notes and a lengthy, extraordinarily smooth finish (reminiscent of Sencha’s), with a sweet, almost buttery clover flavour. Extraordinary tea with a fantastic backstory. Get the kettle on and serve your customers like royalty.