A remarkably coherent green tea of sweet corn, fresh edamame and chestnut, carried by a silky-to-syrupy texture through eight unusually stable infusions.
Tea at a Glance
| Tea | Xinyang Maojian — 小嫩芽 |
|---|---|
| Chinese / Pinyin | 信阳毛尖 / Xìnyáng Máojiān |
| Type | Green tea |
| Origin | Xinyang, Henan, China |
| Defining Character | Sweet corn, edamame, chestnut, silky texture and refreshing clarity |
| Overall Score | 85/100 |
Introduction
This Xinyang Maojian is a study in coherence and persistence. Its flavour spectrum is not especially broad, yet sweet corn, fresh edamame and chestnut remain remarkably clear and stable, supported by strong salivation and a silky texture that gradually becomes syrup-like.
At 72°C the tea is particularly graceful: refreshing, gently sweet and almost entirely free from bitterness or astringency. Its inner landscape is a windswept cornfield beneath a blue sky, refreshed by gentle rain.
Brewing Parameters
- Water: Volvic Natural Mineral Water
- Teaware: Porcelain Gaiwan
- Leaf: 4 g
- Water: 120 ml
- Temperature: 72°C
- Rinse: None
- Infusions: 8
Dry Leaf Aroma
Pale vanilla and jasmine: delicate, clean and gently sweet.
Warm Gaiwan
Lid
Chestnut.
Cup
Roasted chestnut and fresh leaves.
Tasting Journey
Infusion 1
The liquor is very pale and clear yellow, with a strong nut-and-corn fragrance. Light, refreshing sweet corn meets a smooth, silky texture that coats the tongue gently.
Infusion 2
The liquor becomes slightly darker. Edamame emerges alongside mildly sweet corn, giving the tea a fresh and gently vegetal character.
Infusion 3
Corn and edamame merge into something resembling a light corn-and-edamame syrup. Salivation develops, particularly over the upper half of the tongue.
Tea imagery: I am in a vast cornfield. The crops sway in a strong but comfortable wind beneath a blue sky with white clouds. Birds chirp and insects make their sounds.
Infusion 4
Colour and flavour remain remarkably stable. Edamame and sweet corn continue with the same light syrup-like quality, while salivation noticeably increases.
Infusion 5
The central profile remains remarkably steady. The tea is gently sweet, clean and pleasantly refreshing.
Tea imagery: A slow drizzle begins while the wind remains comfortable. I open my mouth and rainwater enters—sweet, light and pleasantly refreshing.
Infusion 6
The flavour remains essentially unchanged. The syrupy mouthfeel seems slightly thicker, developing a more substantial coating across the whole tongue.
Tea imagery: I continue walking through the corn farm, taking sips from the air as I walk.
Infusion 7
The liquor colour persists, as does the substantial mouthfeel. A clear sweet aftertaste develops, similar in character to the sweetness of the liquor itself.
Tea imagery: Refreshed and a little more energetic, I exhale and feel some of the tension I was carrying release.
Infusion 8
The liquor finally pales, returning to approximately the colour of the first infusion. The familiar corn-and-edamame character becomes lighter as another, difficult-to-identify flavour overlaps the established profile.
Tea imagery: I leave the place, part of me longing to return soon.
Tasting Scorecard
| Attribute | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Leaf Aroma | 7.2/10 | Pale vanilla and jasmine; delicate, clean and gently sweet. |
| Wet Leaf Aroma | 7.8/10 | Chestnut, roasted chestnut and fresh leaves. |
| Floral | 6.8/10 | Pale jasmine is apparent dry but increasingly restrained once brewed. |
| Vegetal | 8.5/10 | Fresh edamame emerges in infusion two and remains remarkably stable. |
| Nutty / Cereal | 8.4/10 | Chestnut develops into persistent sweet corn. |
| Umami | 7.2/10 | Gentle savoury depth without heaviness. |
| Sweetness | 8.4/10 | Sweet corn becomes lightly syrupy with a clean returning sweetness. |
| Bitterness | Minimal | Virtually absent at 72°C. |
| Astringency | Minimal | Very little drying; salivation strengthens instead. |
| Body | 8.2/10 | Light and delicate at first, gaining substance without heaviness. |
| Mouthfeel | 8.8/10 | Silky to syrup-like, then increasingly coating. |
| Finish | 8.4/10 | Clean, sweet and refreshing with persistent late-session sweetness. |
| Freshness / Clarity | 9.0/10 | Exceptionally clean and clearly defined at 72°C. |
| Hui Gan / Sheng Jin | 8.9/10 | Progressive salivation and increasingly evident returning sweetness. |
| Longevity | 9.1/10 | Infusions 2–7 remain exceptionally stable; clear fading appears only in infusion 8. |
| Cha Qi | 7.5/10 | Gently refreshing, energising and relaxing. |
| Overall Impression | 8.5/10 | A remarkably coherent and persistent green tea. |
Strengths
- Exceptional freshness and clarity at 72°C.
- Remarkable flavour stability from infusions 2 through 7.
- Silky-to-syrupy mouthfeel with strong salivation and returning sweetness.
- Almost no bitterness or astringency.
Considerations
- The flavour spectrum is focused rather than broad.
- Its delicacy benefits from accurate low-temperature brewing.
- Drinkers seeking assertive bitterness or heavy umami may find it too gentle.
Final Reflection
The experience begins in a vast cornfield beneath a blue sky. Crops sway as birds and insects fill the landscape with sound. A gentle drizzle arrives, and the rain itself seems sweet and refreshing. As the session progresses, it feels as though I am taking sips directly from the air.
By the later infusions, the tea leaves me refreshed and slightly energised. I exhale, and some of the tension I had been carrying seems to leave with it. Eventually, I walk away from the cornfield. Part of me longs to return soon.
World Tea Verdict
- Overall: 85/100
- Best For: Green-tea drinkers who value sweetness, clarity, texture and longevity.
- Defining Character: A refreshing walk through a windswept cornfield after the rain.
- Recommend: Yes, especially when brewed cool enough to protect its delicacy.
Brewing Recommendation
Use 4 g in a 120 ml porcelain gaiwan with Volvic or similarly balanced mineral water at 72°C. Do not rinse. Keep the infusions gentle and consistent: the lower temperature allows sweet corn, edamame, chestnut and silky texture to dominate while suppressing bitterness and astringency. Expect eight infusions, with the clearest fading only in the final cup.
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