Hi Elana,
Thanks for the review and for trying the yellow teas. I am wondering if you have had yellow teas before. Yellow teas are delicate but nuanced. They are along the idea of a Chablis wine. These teas take some calibrating of your palate to become adjusted them but when you do they become very rewarding.

I welcome the opportunity to taste them again with you, perhaps over a Zoom call. I will send you more of the tea if needed. Please reach out to me...very happy to help.

Below I’ve included a copy of an evaluation sheet for Huo Shan Huang Ya from one of my former students.
Huo Shan Huang Ya yellow tea was selected as the official tea of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
I get my Huo Shan Huan Ya directly from a traditional grower that’s family has been producing this tea for generations.
For whatever it is worth, here is my student’s evaluation findings:

Tea Name: Huo Shan Huang Ya

Type of Tea: Yellow Tea
Description of Tea & Unique Characteristics: Huo Shan Huang Ya is one of the rarest and most refined yellow teas made using only tender buds. Hand-picked in early spring, the tender buds and young leaves are pan-fired to almost halt oxidation then are carefully finished over a low charcoal heat. This ancient method of processing is not common today—due to the time and skill it requires—but this style has been revered for over 1,000 years as an imperial tribute tea. Its signature quality comes from the “sealed yellowing” process which mellows the grassy notes found in green tea and replaces them with a softer, sweeter and more rounded profile. A balance of freshness, warmth, and umami sets it apart.
Per: Pound
Leaf Aroma: Vegetal, grassy, bean shoots, sweet pea
Leaf Color: Olive green with speckles of yellow
Leaf Texture: Dry whole leaf and buds
Leaf Size, Shape and Length: Whole leaf and buds mostly uniform
Amount of Tea / Grams: 2 grams
Amount of Water / Ounces: 150 ml
Water Temperature / ºF or ºC: 80 degree Celsius
Steeping Time in minutes: 30 seconds
Aroma: Steamed greens, chestnut
Color: Pale green
Taste: Gentle sweetness, light umami
Flavor: Notes of sweet pea, chestnut and steamed greens or bamboo shoots
Texture/Viscosity/Body: Silky, smooth, light mouthfeel
Tea Rating (1 to 10): 8
Water Temperature / ºF or ºC: 80 degrees Celsius
Steeping Time in Minutes: 45 seconds
Aroma: Steamed greens, soft floral like osmanthus
Color: Clean, pale, light yellow
Taste: More pronounced nuttiness and vegetal notes with a hint of orchid or osmanthus
Flavor: Balanced and elegant with light umami, vegetal notes and nutty sweetness
Texture/Viscosity/Body: Smooth, refreshing with a clean, lingering finish
Tea Rating (1 to 10): 8
Water Temperature / ºF or ºC: 80 degrees Celsius
Steeping Time in Minutes: 1 minute
Aroma: Grassy, sweet, vegetal
Color: Clear, very pale slightly yellow hued
Taste: Muted, light umami, vegetal notes, no bitterness or astringency
Flavor: Fades into a mellow sweetness with lingering soft osmanthus note and a dry finish
Texture/Viscosity/Body: Smooth, refreshing with a clean finish
Tea Rating (1 to 10): 6
Personal Experience of the Tea: Huo Shan Huang Ya is a delicate and sophisticated tea with a gentle nature and subtle complexity of flavors including grassy, vegetal notes along with subtle sweetness and floral undertones. It would be a lovely tea to sip slowly through the day and offers a mellow, less stimulating alternative to green teas.

Please let me know if I can be of further help.

Phil