福

建

安

溪

毛

蟹

乌

龙

福

建

安

溪

毛

蟹

乌

龙

Water Temperature & Rinse

Use water at around 90–95 °C (194–203 °F) to bring out the tea’s sweetness and aroma. Give the leaves a quick rinse of 5–10 seconds to wash and gently awaken them, helping the tightly rolled oolong to begin unfurling before your first infusion.

Steeping Ratios & Times

Start with about 5 grams of tea for a 100–150 ml gaiwan or Yixing teapot. Begin with short infusions of 10–15 seconds, gradually extending the time by 5–10 seconds with each steep. This tea can typically yield 7–9 infusions, with evolving layers of sweetness and minerality.

Teaware Recommendation

Yixing clay teapots are an excellent choice, as their heat retention enhances the richness of oolong teas, while porcelain gaiwans allow you to observe the leaves as they open and release their fragrance.

Water Temperature & Rinse Use water at around 90–95 °C (194–203 °F) to bring out the tea’s sweetness and aroma. Give the leaves a quick rinse of 5–10 seconds to wash and gently awaken them, helping the tightly rolled oolong to begin unfurling before your first infusion.

Steeping Ratios & Times Start with about 5 grams of tea for a 100–150 ml gaiwan or Yixing teapot. Begin with short infusions of 10–15 seconds, gradually extending the time by 5–10 seconds with each steep. This tea can typically yield 7–9 infusions, with evolving layers of sweetness and minerality.

Teaware Recommendation Yixing clay teapots are an excellent choice, as their heat retention enhances the richness of oolong teas, while porcelain gaiwans allow you to observe the leaves as they open and release their fragrance.

Mao Xie, known as “Hair of the Crab,” also originates from Anxi County in Fujian, the same region famed for Tie Guan Yin. Although less widely known, it holds a distinct place in Anxi’s tea culture. The cultivar thrives in the county’s rolling hills, where mist and steady rainfall create lush conditions for tea production. The soil’s mineral richness supports the development of delicate, fragrant leaves that produce a tea lighter and gentler than Tie Guan Yin but no less refined.

The name “Hairy Crab” comes from the fine white hairs covering the young leaves, a natural trait that hints at its freshness and vitality. While Tie Guan Yin is celebrated for its power and intensity, Mao Xie is cherished locally for its soft floral profile, subtle creaminess, and gentle sweetness. Its cultivation and production reflect the diversity of Anxi’s tea-making tradition, a region where experimentation and refinement of oolong craft has been practiced for centuries.

Mao Xie, known as “Hair of the Crab,” also originates from Anxi County in Fujian, the same region famed for Tie Guan Yin. Although less widely known, it holds a distinct place in Anxi’s tea culture. The cultivar thrives in the county’s rolling hills, where mist and steady rainfall create lush conditions for tea production. The soil’s mineral richness supports the development of delicate, fragrant leaves that produce a tea lighter and gentler than Tie Guan Yin but no less refined.

The name “Hairy Crab” comes from the fine white hairs covering the young leaves, a natural trait that hints at its freshness and vitality. While Tie Guan Yin is celebrated for its power and intensity, Mao Xie is cherished locally for its soft floral profile, subtle creaminess, and gentle sweetness. Its cultivation and production reflect the diversity of Anxi’s tea-making tradition, a region where experimentation and refinement of oolong craft has been practiced for centuries.

Brewing Guide

Region

This varietal originates in Gan De Village in Anxi County, Fujian. Its name translates to "Hair of the Crab," inspired by the fine hairs on the leaves that detach during brewing and float atop the tea. It tends toward a richer and sweeter profile compared to more floral strains like Tie Guan Yin, representing one of the finest grades available.