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New
Deep Steamed Yabukita, first flush single cultivar fukamushi sencha, 70g
Cold Energy, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Japan, Lighter Aromas, Organic teas, TeaUS$25.5狭山 上煎茶 深蒸し薮北
In classic sencha production, the leaves are steamed optimally to attain that richly intense green colour. A fukamushi sencha ( i.e. deep steamed sencha 深蒸し茶), on the other hand, goes through at least double the duration. This yields a yellowish green tea that is softer, less astringent, less bitter, and with a fuller, smoother mouthfeel. The extra steaming time causes more cracks in the cell walls in addition to the leaf cuticle, allowing a significantly higher release of pectins and other soluble salutary contents in the final liquor, which would otherwise be trapped in the leaf however long the infusion time is. This allows for a dramatically smoother texture and rounder body compared to the classic sencha. We have picked a production from the rich dark volcanic soil in the Sayama area by Master Tanaka. The popular cultivar Yabukita manifests itself distinctly in this Spring harvest. Net weight: 70g (2.5oz) in Kraft-alu pillow
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New
Little Tangerine, lightly roasted Taiwan green tea, 40g
Cold Energy, Green teas, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Taiwan, TeaUS$23.0三峽 青心柑仔 明前 輕火手炒綠茶
Unique cultivar wok roasted green tea
If you’d like your green tea to be umami, refreshing, and slightly floral, yet not astrigent nor bitter, Tea Hong’s Little Tangerine, a unique green tea from Taiwan is a dreamlike answer. It is even softly sweet, with a smooth body and can be easily prepared using various temperature settings and brewing time. It is a single farm, early Spring (Pre-Ching-Ming) single batch harvest from the renowned Three Gorge (Sanxia) area, about 1.5 hour south of Taipei into the emerald mountains. The native tea cultivar is known between farmers as Ganzai 柑仔*, referring its leaf’s close resemblance to that of a kind of sweet tangerine native to this part of Asia. Formally the full name of the tea plant is Chin Shin Gan Zai 青心柑仔. While there are myths and theories about its origin, scholars are still researching how this unique tea bush has come into existance only in Taiwan. Genuine quality, especially that has been masterfully produced, is rare. However, since the farmer has asked us for a humble price, we have directly transferred that low markup in our offer to follow their faithful and honest efforts. Enjoy.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu classic pack -
Cedar Creek Classic, deep oxidation Taiwan oolong, 70 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Taiwan, TeaUS$25.0深造青 文火深焙 杉林溪紅水烏龍
Red Liquor Oolong
Other than the famous Oriental Beauty, there is another popular deep oxidation oolong in Taiwan. The locals call it Red Liquor Oolong — Hong Shui Wulong, referring to it being like hong cha, i.e. red tea ( aka black tea ). To include this variety in our collection, we have been screening sources from different parts of the Beautiful Island*, and concluded that the one from the scenic mountain of Da Lun Shan 大崙山 in Shan Lin Xi 杉林溪* by Master Chen has the highest potential. While some use the softer tasting Jinxuan or Four Season cultivars, Master Chen insists the use of the old Qing Xin from his 1500m altitude tea farm for its more complex taste profile after the long oxidation process. We do too. In addition to the oolong way* of deeper zao qing*, the real mastery is also in the baking. It is this precise heating that optimally caramelises and transforms the juice from the tightly rolled tea beads into the complexity in what the tea offers. We have aged it till all the elements are in place for the current uniquely enjoyable taste and aroma.
Net weight: 70 g (2.5 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow pack -
Western Half of the Mountain 2015, shengcha Pu’er maocha, 40 g
Cold Energy, Floral Aromas, Pu'er loose leaf shengcha, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanUS$16.9臨滄 勐庫西半山 大葉生毛茶
Mengku Maocha 2015 — Mengku Xi Ban Shan
Rough terrains, with altitudes ranging from 1000’s to over 3000 m make up almost 100% of the total 475 km2 of Mengku, in the subregion of Lincang in Yunnan. The uneven landscape is interlaced with huge rocks and subtropical forests. That may explain why for over 500 years the production of tea has been a major means of livelihood for the indigenous tribes here. Old tea trees exist in patches here and there. Sometimes there is a single huge one which immediate surrounding would be cleared for pickers to work during harvests. While leaves from the east side of this cluster of mountains are known for their strong character, those produced on the west side are sweeter, silkier and more gentle. I think the latter is better in the form of maocha. We have matured this batch for 9 years for your better enjoyment, and friendlier to the stomach.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in wide Kraft-alu pack
