Hanshui Yinsuo

Hanshui Yinsuo

　　Hanshui Yinsuo

　　Hanshui Yinsuo is a renowned tea recently developed in Nanzheng County, southern Shaanxi Province. It passed technical and quality evaluations in 1986 and was awarded the title of Famous Tea by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1982. Its quality features include a flat, shuttle-like appearance with emerald green color and abundant white downy hairs; the internal qualities are a tender and lasting aroma with a hint of orchid fragrance, light green and clear bright liquor, a fresh and mellow taste with a sweet aftertaste, and tender, plump, yellowish-green and evenly bright leaf bottoms. Because it is produced in the upper reaches of the Hanshui River, has a flat shuttle-like shape, is covered with white downy hairs, and shines like silver, it is thus named “Hanshui-Yinsuo.”

　　South of the Qinling Mountains, at the foot of the Bashan Mountains, and in the upper reaches of the Hanshui River lies one of Shaanxi’s ancient tea-growing regions. Historical records indicate that as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, with the shift of China’s economic and cultural centers, tea plants were introduced northward to Liangzhou (now Nanzheng and Hanzhong areas). By the Tang Dynasty, there were already records of famous teas from Liangzhou, among which Qianlong Cave tea from Nanzheng County was one of the historically renowned varieties.

　　The tea-growing region of Nanzheng County benefits from its mountainous and water-rich surroundings, enjoying superior geographical location and natural conditions. The area features undulating hills, with tea gardens vertically distributed across altitudes ranging from 560 to 1,300 meters, resulting in naturally high-quality fresh leaves.

　　The picking and processing techniques are highly meticulous. Fresh leaves are harvested according to two grades: one bud with one leaf just unfolding, and one bud with one fully unfolded leaf. The production involves six processes: withering, fixing, shaping, enhancing downiness, cooling and drying, and sorting and packaging.

　　　Hanshui Yinsuo is a newly created semi-roasted, semi-stoved type of green tea and is one of the renowned teas of northern China. It is produced in Nanzheng County, Hanzhong area, southern Shaanxi, and is named for its flat, shuttle-like shape covered with white downy hairs and its origin in the upper reaches of the Hanshui River. Made from carefully selected buds with abundant downy hairs, ranging from one bud and one leaf to one bud and two leaves, it boasts a green color, mellow taste, high aroma, bright green liquor, and bright green leaf bottoms. It is renowned in the market for its “high aroma, mellow taste, emerald color, and beautiful shape,” and has won 17 international and domestic awards. It is exported to countries such as Japan, the United States, and Singapore, as well as regions including Taiwan and Hong Kong in China, and has been designated as tea for state banquets.

　　　　Origin

　　　　Nanzheng County is located in the southwestern part of the Hanzhong Basin and is known as the “Little Jiangnan of the Northwest,” boasting an exceptionally superior ecological environment. The county’s southern border connects with Tongjiang County and Wangcang County of Sichuan Province, with boundary lengths of 48.7 km, 94.2 km, and 15.8 km respectively; to the west it neighbors Ningqiang County and Mian County of Shaanxi Province, with boundary lengths of 37 km and 83 km respectively; to the east it borders Chenggu County and Xixiang County, with boundary lengths of 79.3 km and 39 km respectively; to the north it faces Hantai District of Hanzhong City across the river, with a boundary length of 40 km, making the total county boundary length approximately 437 km. The county’s maximum straight-line distance from east to west is 83 km, and from north to south is 79 km, covering a total area of 2,823 square kilometers.

　　　　Nanzheng County has a long history of tea cultivation, dating back to the Xia and Shang periods, with records of “famous teas from Liangzhou” already existing in the Tang Dynasty. The prosperity of the “tea-horse trade” during the Northern Song Dynasty reflects the flourishing tea industry in Nanzheng. The county’s total tea garden area has reached 60,200 mu, with a total tea output of 1,745 tons and an output value exceeding 80 million yuan, making it one of the six major advantageous tea-producing regions in Shaanxi Province. The tea-growing area lies north of the Qinling Mountains, south of the Bashan Mountains, and in the upper reaches of the Hanshui River, forming part of Shaanxi’s ancient tea region. The region features undulating hills, a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and fertile soil. Tea gardens are vertically distributed at elevations between 500 and 1,300 meters, yielding high-quality fresh leaves. Chen Zongmao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a leading tea expert, once praised the “ecological conditions of Nanzheng’s tea gardens as the best in China.”

　　　　Quality

　　　　The finished tea is flat and shuttle-like, with emerald green color and abundant downy hairs;

　　　　It offers a lasting tender aroma with floral notes, light green and clear bright liquor, a fresh and mellow taste that is durable and leaves a sweet aftertaste;

　　　　The leaf bottoms are tender, with plump buds, and are yellowish-green and evenly bright. The liquor is clear and cool, the fragrance rich and fragrant, and just a few drops in the throat fill the mouth and cheeks with an orchid-like freshness.

　　　　Initially, there is a slight bitterness, but as you sip slowly, the aftertaste turns sweet, delighting the mood and spirit. Drinking it in larger sips fills the chest with emotion, and one suddenly feels as if surrounded by lush greenery, as though returning to nature, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

　　　　Brewing

　　　　When the tea is placed in boiling water at 85°C, after about two or three minutes, Hanshui Yinsuo begins to unfurl its tender green buds, swaying gracefully on the branches and standing elegantly on the transparent cup bottom. The liquor is clear and cool, the fragrance rich and fragrant, and just a few drops in the throat fill the mouth and cheeks with an orchid-like freshness. Initially, there is a slight bitterness, but as you sip slowly, the aftertaste turns sweet, delighting the mood and spirit. Drinking it in larger sips fills the chest with emotion, and one suddenly feels as if surrounded by lush greenery, as though returning to nature, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

　　　　The first infusion is light yellow. The leaf shape is irregular. The aroma is faint, with a grassy note. It’s like walking through a meadow after fresh rain. The first sip has a light sweetness, with the aroma not very pronounced. After swallowing the tea, there is a sensation of moisture. Five minutes later, a faint bean-like aroma emerges. The second infusion brings out the aroma, similar to that of Wuzi Xianhao. It is elegant and long-lasting, subtle yet vibrant. As the aroma becomes richer, it is evident that the fragrance of Hanshui Yinsuo is exceptionally strong—subtle, vibrant, and captivating.