The Mahhei Village is one of the famous Tea mountains in Yiwu, and the teas produced from the major areas of Yiwu have always been favored by Pu'er tea enthusiasts. Among them, “Mahhei” is the most flavorful tea in Yiwu. Compared to the teas from other major production areas of Yiwu, “Mahhei” is a rare tea both in terms of quality and output.

The Origin of the Name Mahhei Village

Mahhei Village is a Han Chinese village, but it's puzzling why a Han Chinese village would be named Mahhei. Later, local elders explained that Mahhei was originally called “Big Roadside,” because the village is located next to the main road leading to Laos. In the past, when people traveled from Laos to Yiwu on horseback, they would start at dawn and arrive at “Big Roadside” just as it was getting dark. Locals referred to this time as “mahshahei,” “mahmahhei,” or simply “Mahhei,” and over time, “Big Roadside” became known as Mahhei.

The Production Base of Yiwu Mahhei

Mahhei Village Committee Administrative Village is located in the mountainous area of Yiwu Township. It is situated to the northeast of Yiwu Township, 23 kilometers away from the Mahhei Village Committee, and 32 kilometers away from Yiwu Township. The area covers 2.74 square kilometers with an elevation of 1,203 meters. The average annual temperature is 17.00°C, and the annual precipitation is 2,100 millimeters, making it suitable for growing crops such as grains and tea. There are 2,663 mu (1 mu ≈ 0.067 hectares) of arable land, with each person having an average of 4.01 mu; there are also 447 mu of forested land. The village consists of three residential groups, with 123 households and a rural population of 668 people, all of whom are engaged in agriculture. In 2007, the total economic income of the village was 1.4502 million yuan, with an average net income per farmer of 1,362 yuan. The primary source of income for the villagers is tea.

The Yiwu Mahhei Pu'er Tea Plantations

Mahhei Village has 2,400 mu of ancient tea gardens and over 5,100 mu of new-style tea gardens, along with seven Tea processing workshops. In 2007, the per capita net income of Mahhei Village reached 8,300 yuan, with an average household income of 50,000 yuan. These figures are based on official reports, and the actual numbers may vary.

Mahhei now boasts the largest area and highest yield of ancient tea gardens among the many peaks in Yiwu. The village is built within a forest, where the ancient tea trees coexist with the natural environment, hidden amidst the trees, providing an excellent habitat.

The tea from Mahhei can be divided into large tree tea and small tree tea. Large tree tea is a local term for ancient tea trees, most of which have been pruned. In terms of their growth form, these trees cannot be considered large but rather small; the only thing that can be described as large is their age. Nowadays, tea farmers are beginning to raise the ancient tea trees more naturally, performing minimal pruning. After several years, these trees will develop into the form of large trees. Younger tea trees planted in the tea gardens by later generations, due to their shorter age, are collectively referred to as small tree tea.

The small tree tea from Mahhei Village is not inferior; however, the frenzy for large tree tea has naturally widened the price gap between large and small tree teas, making small tree tea seem less desirable by comparison. Purchasing small tree tea from Mahhei Village is still a good choice, offering a high cost-performance ratio. This is merely a personal opinion and has nothing to do with wealthy individuals buying large tree tea.

Taste Characteristics of Yiwu Mahhei Ancient Tree Tea

1. Appearance

The tea leaves are thick and strong, with visible downy tips, moderately compact to facilitate aging; the color changes from dark green to yellow-green, and finally to brownish-yellow.

2. Aroma

In the first year after conversion, the aroma is high and fresh, becoming more intense; during the 2-3 year transition period, the aroma is relatively subdued; after three years, the honey-like aroma becomes rich and substantial; after five years, there is a slight aged fragrance, which is rich and long-lasting.

3. Liquor Color

The color changes from bright yellow-green to bright orange-yellow, and finally to translucent orange-brown.

4. Flavor

The bitterness and astringency of the new tea are very mild, embodying the characteristics of Yiwu tea; the salivation is noticeable and lasting, and as the storage years increase, the body of the tea becomes significantly richer, the liquor smoother, and the layers of flavors increasingly complex and rich.

5. Leaf Bottom

The leaves are lustrous, soft, and substantial, and can withstand multiple infusions, changing in color from yellow-green to brownish-yellow.

The distinctive feature of Mahhei tea is its caramel aroma. Some describe it as a honey-like aroma, but Mahhei ancient tree Pu'er tea tends more towards a caramel aroma. If you have many teas that are difficult to distinguish in taste, then Mahhei tea is definitely the easiest to identify. The combination of caramel aroma, sweetness, low astringency, lingering flavor, and persistent aftertaste forms the overall impression of Mahhei tea.