How do you brew Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief)?

Brew Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) at 175°F (80°C). For gongfu style, steep 30-45 seconds; Western style, 2-3 minutes. Use Tall glass or glass teapot — admire the huge leaves standing upright with 2-3g per 200ml. Expect 3-4 infusions.

Where is Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) from?

Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) is produced in Taiping County, Huangshan, Anhui. Spring, one bud with two leaves, picked by hand. The leaves are huge — 5-7cm long, the largest of any Chinese tea.

How much does Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) cost?

Entry-level Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) costs $15-30 / 100g (standard grade). Premium grades run $50-120+ / 100g (true Taiping, hand-rolled, pre-Qingming).

How do you brew Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief)?

Brew Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) at 175°F (80°C). For gongfu style, steep 30-45 seconds; Western style, 2-3 minutes. Use Tall glass or glass teapot — admire the huge leaves standing upright with 2-3g per 200ml. Expect 3-4 infusions.

Where is Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) from?

Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) is produced in Taiping County, Huangshan, Anhui. Spring, one bud with two leaves, picked by hand. The leaves are huge — 5-7cm long, the largest of any Chinese tea.

How much does Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) cost?

Entry-level Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) costs $15-30 / 100g (standard grade). Premium grades run $50-120+ / 100g (true Taiping, hand-rolled, pre-Qingming).

Green Tea ← All famous teas

Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) 太平猴魁

Fresh, orchid, sweet, thick and full-bodied

Taiping County, Huangshan, AnhuiCaffeine: MediumBeginner: ★★★★☆

Water Temp

175°F (80°C)

Infusions

3-4

Harvest

Spring, one bud with two leaves, picked by hand. The leaves are huge — 5-7cm long, the largest of any Chinese tea.

Entry Price

$15-30 / 100g (standard grade)

Flavor Profile

Taste & Aroma

AromaOrchid, fresh green, faint chestnut

TasteThick, sweet, full-bodied with strong orchid notes and a lingering, cooling aftertaste (hui gan)

ColorPale green, bright and clear

BodyFull, thick, surprisingly substantial for a green tea

Brewing Guide

How to Brew It

Water

175°F (80°C)

Vessel

Tall glass or glass teapot — admire the huge leaves standing upright

Gongfu Time

30-45 seconds

Western Time

2-3 minutes

Ratio

2-3g per 200ml

Infusions

3-4

Read the general brewing guide →

Buying Guide

How to Buy Taiping Houkui (Monkey Chief) Without Getting Scammed

The Chinese tea market is vast and unregulated. Here's exactly what to look for — and what to run from.

Entry Level

$15-30 / 100g (standard grade)

Premium / Collector

$50-120+ / 100g (true Taiping, hand-rolled, pre-Qingming)

Quality Check

The leaves should be enormous (5-7cm), flat, and sword-shaped, with visible veins. Genuine Houkui has a thick, full-bodied character unusual for a green tea. Avoid small, broken, or machine-flattened leaves.

Common Scams

Fakes from other Anhui regions with smaller leaves. Machine-pressed versions lack the orchid aroma and full body. The leaf size alone filters out most counterfeits.

Search keywords that find the real thing

Taiping HoukuiMonkey Chief teaHou KuiAnhui green teaTaiping green tea

For the general principles behind every one of these checks — harvest dates, origin specificity, red flags — read our complete buying guide.

History

Where It Comes From

One of China's Ten Famous Teas, made in Taiping County near Huangshan. The name combines the village (Taiping) with a legend: tea bushes grew on a cliff reachable only by monkeys trained to pick them (hou means monkey). The tea's claim to fame is its huge, intact leaves — the largest in Chinese tea.