The mountains of Yunnan, in south-western China, are known to enthusiasts for their black teas with golden buds; less is known about how they also yield a green tea that Mariage Frères describes as having rarely left its country of origin. Montagne Kong Ming is that tea: a plain green tea with broad, tender leaves and a great fragrance.

The leaf, ample and supple, is characteristic of the large-leaved tea bushes of Yunnan, which differ from the small-leaved cultivars of the rest of China. The tea is plain, with no added fragrance; the full list of ingredients appears on the packaging and on this sheet, and in our catalogue it carries the Jardin Premier label.

The liquor has a celadon and golden tint, that pale grey-green of antique porcelain crossed with light. The aroma is delicate, the flavour gentle, without any bitterness or aggressive greenness; there is a vegetal roundness, a note of fresh chestnut, and a quiet length that led the house to write that it is a tea for reverie.

It is drunk during the day, plain, by those who enjoy Chinese green teas but seek more softness than a Long Jing or a Chun Mee; it accompanies a light meal, steamed vegetables, a white fish, or simply a moment of stillness. The broad leaves withstand a second infusion, slightly longer. It also lends itself to cold infusion.

Allow 5 g per 200 ml of water at 95 °C and three minutes of infusion: the measure is generous, because the broad leaves are light and voluminous. Montagne Kong Ming is weighed and packed to order in our shops in Bordeaux and Nice, from the 5 g sample to the kilo, in a bag designed to preserve its freshness. Store it airtight, away from light.