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Serene Water Pearl Tea, traditional green tea, 60 g
Cool Energy, Green teas, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Tea, ZhejiangUS$21.0明前、平水珠茶
Ping Shui Zhu Cha:
Back-track three centuries to when Qing China was still grand and tea was a respectable drink, zhu cha ( pearl tea ) from Ping Shui — the town of Serene Water — approached the price of gold when auctioned in London. As popularity grew, compromised products took over the market and resulted in those greyish bad taste that is known as “gunpowder” today. Tea Hong revives the original sweet tasting jewel of green teas in the same revered and enjoyable quality in the cups of the gentiles in both the East and the West in the good old days, but at a far more democratically accessible price.
Net weight: 60 g (2.1 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow -
Jade Orchid, bouquet Phoenix dancong oolong, 40 g
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaUS$21.4雪片玉蘭香
Xue Pian Yu Lan Xiang
One of the most common practices in tea naming in the Fenghuang region is giving a tea the name of the flower which the farmer associates the aroma with. Some of such flowers are fictitious, yet some are real. Like this one, Yu-lan, after the flower tree Magnolia denudata, a.k.a. Yulan magnolia. Jade orchid — as the name "Yulan" is translated — is a tree native to the region where Phoenix is. The tea cultivar itself is relatively new, having been developed locally by a farmer Wei Li Man in the 1980’s. That is why the more popular name for the plant itself amongst local farmers is Li Man zhong, or Li Man’s cultivar. To me, the winter harvest resembles the flower’s aroma more closely so we select only this for Tea Hong’s Jade Orchid. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster’s Box: Nine Oolong Samplers.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Fengxi Old Ginger, classic Fenghuang dancong oolong, 40 g
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaUS$32.8鳳西 老欉薑母香
Tea Hong's Fengxi Old Ginger offers a floral, fruity profile with a ginger tone, and even a tiny hint of that spicy bite. Its elegant bouquet is luxuriously rich and complex, yet intricate and delicate. This distinctive olfactory presence and its intriguing gingery zest make the tea a unique choice in the classic style Phoenix oolong line up. Jiangmu Xiang, as the tea is called in the romanisation of the original name, has a slightly different origin too: about 10min on the motorbike to the east of Wudong — the Mecca of Fenghuang dancong — in the area of Fengxi, where the original 200+year-old tree has been propagated to the hundreds of production ones. Newer ones are now found elsewhere but we stay with the older clones which yields can give deeper and fuller characteristics of the tea. Like all our classic style Phoenixes, the tea has been rested a few months after harvest before the finishing rebake, and then matured amply before release, as in the proper old tradition.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Bada 2011, Pu’er shu cha, 120 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Home, Neutral Energy, Pu'er teas, Tea, YunnanUS$26.7巴達深山、賀松圓熟
Traditional Premium Shu Cha :
At 1800 m elevation, the temperature difference between day and night can easily be over 15°C even on a hot summer day. That is deep in the mountains in He Song of the Bada region in Xishuangbanna. Leaves grow much slower here, accumulated in them a little bit more plant protein, and the rich minerals from the pristine mountain soils. We pick whole sun-withered leaves from these native tea trees to process and mature into our premium grade shu cha pu’er. Presenting Bada, possibly the richest, deepest, and yet roundest post-fermented tea there is.
Net weight: 120 g (4.2 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Yunnan Golden, traditional black tea, 40 g
Black teas, Lighter Aromas, Neutral-Warm Energy, Tea, YunnanUS$14.8明前 金尖滇紅
The People’s Black Tea:
It is said that the first Yunnan black tea was made here in Feng Qing. It is also the origin of the golden tippy tea that was presented as a national gift to Queen Elizabeth II when she first visited China in 1986. To us, what matters more is the pleasant, oatsy tea liquor with that distinct apple flavour and slight bite of citrus that you can drink all day, leaving the mouth feeling fresh and moist anytime in the subtlest way. This friendly taste profile is possible only with select first flush, non-blended leaves properly processed and baked optimally for balance of fragrance and dryness. Our staff says it is the people’s tea. Aptly named.
Read more: Dianhong — Tea Born of a War
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
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Narcissus Classic, Wuyi yancha oolong, 40 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, Tea, Warm Energy, Wuyi-shanUS$22.1武夷、正岩水仙
Dark Rock Shuixian:
This tea may have the same name as some low quality tea used in dimsum restaurants but it certainly tastes differently. It is the ORIGINAL Shuixian, the famous oolong that grows on dark rock cliffs in the depth of Wuyi Mountains. Narcissus Classic, like most other deeper baked oolongs, goes well with a wide range of cuisines and desserts and is a great digestive. Also an adaptable tea for preparation with other ingredients, such as ginger and raw sugar, and a safer tea for the weaker stomach.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Old Bush Zhilan, bouquet dancong, 40 g
Cool Energy, Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, TeaUS$43.8鳳凰烏崠、丹湖老欉芝蘭香
From the same small farm that produces our beloved Danhu Old Bush Song Cultivar, old Master Lin tends three venerable bushes that his father planted in his youth, now about 80 years old, crafting from them a seductively fragrant Zhilan Xiang. As a dancong bush gains age in its natural environment, the tea from its leaves has the potential for greater complexity taste and aroma. This is a distinctive trait of this oldest form of oolong. That is one reason harvests from older bushes are keenly sought after by connoisseurs. For a bouquet dancong, however, achieving perfection depends not only on the terroir and the mastery of processing but also on the precise weather and leaf condition at harvest. Unlike classic dancong, where there are a few more steps in which the tea master has some room to compensate for less-than-ideal circumstances, the fewer steps and shorter time in bouquet-style processing has less margin for error note. That means some years are distinctively better than others. That is why for a harvest as nearly perfect as this one, it is a blessing.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Ying Hong Nine, traditional black tea, 50 g
Black teas, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Other tea regions, TeaUS$21.4廣東英德春茶 英紅九號
Prodigy Black Tea of Yingde
Although the ancestry of cultivar Ying Hong #9 was taken from the rugged mountains of Yunnan 60 years ago, the tea tree has acquired a very different characteristics in the much milder climate on the rolling hills of middle Guangdong. However, not all farms are able to produce a warm sweet black tea with a rich and smooth body as Tea Hong’s Ying Hong Nine. This patiently withered and oxidised selection is processed in the Guangdong style and optimally baked for its creamy characteristics and fruity accents. A prize-winning quality at great value. Read more:
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Himalayan Finest Flowery, organic orthodox black tea, 80 g
Black teas, Nepal, the Himalayas, Neutral Energy, Organic teas, Stronger Tastes, TeaUS$29.8नेपाली प्रीमियम अर्थोहोडक्स चिया
Nepali Finest Orthodox
If black teas from China are too soft for your taste, and those from Taiwan too complex to your palate, perhaps this is a good option. While having same level of pleasant flowery character, Himalayan Finest Flowery has a lot more sharpness and strength. Just like your good old Darjeeling when they were still delivering quality. Our garden, 1800m above the Dhankuta region, lends a pristine growth environment for the tea. The extreme difference between day and night, winter and spring, the dry air and unique minerals in the soil give a distinctive taste profile to this light colour black tea. EU and USDA certified organic.
Net weight: 80 g (2.8oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Black Leaf Special, Phoenix dancong oolong, 40 g
Cool Energy, Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, TeaUS$19.8鳳凰單欉 上品大烏葉
Fenghuang Da Wuye:
If classic Phoenix oolongs are too sweet, and bouquet ones too florally aromatic for you, Tea Hong’s Black Leaf Special maybe your cup of tea. It is produced from a new cultivar developed for maltiness and complexity in taste. A very different oolong from the rest. Our special selection is harvested from higher altitudes near the oolong mecca that is Wudong.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Tieguanyin Floral, bouquet oolong, 80 g
Cold Energy, Floral Aromas, Milder Tastes, Minnan/ Mindong, Fujian, Oolongs, TeaUS$18.3花香滿樓 頭春金觀音
A very fragrant Jin Guanyin
While some people like their Tieguanyin subtle and long like it used to be traditionally, some others want it to be more floral. So we give you Tieguanyin Floral, a very bouquet version of this popular oolong. The cultivar is Jin Guanyin ( aka Golden Tieguanyin ), a child between the traditional Tieguanyin plant and a relatively newer bleed, Huangjin Gui *. While the latter is widely used as a substitute for the genuine Tieguanyin for its pleasing nose, it lacks the body and length of the real thing. The resultant hybrid, however, has the best of both parents. The terroir is in Xianghua, a mountainous area in the Anxi county in the subtropical southern part of Fujian, where the best Tieguanyin is produced. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster’s Box: Nine Oolong Samplers.
Net weight: 80 g (2.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Phoenix Petioles 1988, matured leaf stalk oolong, 40 g
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, TeaUS$20.1私藏 陳年鳳凰莖茶
Phoenix tea farmers’ tea
In Phoenix, before a tea goes through the last round of baking to be ready for consumption, it is sorted manually to get rid of the leaf stalks (i.e. petioles), broken leaves, and other leaves that are not as nicely rolled or processed as the others (aka Yu Ye). The producer retains such “refuse”, rebakes it and keep it for personal use or give it out to their neighbours and relatives. They call it cha tou or thê-tao in the local language, as in “Tea Head”*. Provided the right quality, the taste of thê-tao, despite their irregularity in appearance, is actually sweeter and softer than the leaf tea from the same plant and a lot more flexible and tolerant with brewing mistakes. Presenting Tea Hong’s Phoenix Petioles 1988, a thê-tao collected between 1985 to 1988 by our top Phoenix producer. Because of the decades long maturity given onto the tea, it exhibits a post-fermentation characteristics somewhat alike those of finer shu cha Pu’ers — earthy, woodsy, herbal and pacifyingly herbal sweet, combined with an underlying and unmistakable matured Phoenix undertone. A unique taste experience unlike anything else.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
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Mo Gan Yellow Snails, yellow tea, 50 g
Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Lighter Aromas, Neutral-Cool Energy, Tea, Yellow teas, ZhejiangUS$29.9明前熟香 莫干黃芽螺
Revitalising an old yellow tea
Tea Hong’s Mo Gan Yellow Snails is a break away from the old Mo Gan Yellow Tip. We have greatly modified traditional yellowing to give the tea a distinctive yellow look and a taste that is different from both green tea and old style yellow tea. A neo-yellow. Unlike other tea categories, old style yellow tea has not prospered in all these decades since tea’s revival after the destructive Mao era. Its taste needs a lot more to create followers. Similarly from the mountain of Mo Gan in the region of Zhejiang, Tea Hong’s Mo Gan Yellow Snails has departed from the dull colours of the old to maintain a brisk freshness in the look and taste, while achieving a characteristic “cooked” warmth and sweetness that is the real spirit of yellow tea. Now that is a good individualistic character to have a place in any tea repertoire.
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Moss Island 2018, shengcha Pu’er maocha, pu-erh, 40 g
Cold Energy, Fuller Bodies, Home, Pu'er loose leaf shengcha, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanUS$21.3明前冰島 正宗勐庫大葉生茶
Bing Dao Maocha
Leaves from Bing Dao look definitively different as from, say, those of Pasha. It is a different variety of Yunnan Da Ye tea tree1 — Mengku Da Ye (Mengku Big Leaf), that differentiates itself not only with the larger leaf size, but also an accent of crispy sweetness. It is believed that Bing Dao — Island of Moss2 — is the birthplace of the tea tree variety. Variants and cultivars of Mengku Da Ye are used popularly in the county of Mengku3 for both black and pu'er tea production. Some say it began in late 15th century when a governor asked locals to plant 200 seeds here to start tea production. That would become the tens of thousand in this area where the Mengku variety is found to be genetically the most pure. Less than 20% of variation in their DNA, quite impressive for over 500 years of unmanaged sexual propagation in the wild. I think this batch is exceptional in manifesting the characteristics of this unique tea tree. It is a premium harvest. If you are interested, compare this loose leaf form with the compressed form » Bing Dao 2014 that is also available at Tea Hong.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in wide Kraft-alu pack
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Meizhan Classic, Wuyi yancha oolong, 40 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Home, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Tea, Wuyi-shanUS$24.9細火純滋味、正岩梅占
Wuyi's Secret Ingredient
Like Rou Gui and Shuixian, Meizhan has long been a major production cultivar in Wuyi. It has never attained that level of prestige like the other two though. Perhaps because traders want to hide a big secret. It is a major ingredient to blend with other varieties to produce what flood the high end market with labels of Red Cloak, Tieluohan, Shuijin Gui or such fancy traditional rare teas. We think it deserves a place of its own. Introducing Tea Hong’s Wuyi Meizhan. Enjoy its sweet floral aroma uniquely finished with a just right Wuyi style firing. A great tea for all occasions. No fancy names, just pure quality at great value.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
Menghai Spring 2004, Pu’er shu cha, 100 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Pu'er teas, Tea, YunnanUS$19.9私庫典藏、乾倉勐海春芽
Private Reserve Classic Pu’er:
Maturing of dark tea demand good scientific understanding of the process and experienced selection of initial batches. We have devised a special approach to deliver quality incomparable by others at even higher price points. Tea Hong’s Menghai Spring is prized for its dark liquor with a silkily smooth body but without being too soft. A classic representation of fine “shu cha” puer.
Net weight: 100 g (3.5 oz) in Kraft Alu Pack
