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Karigane Gyokuro, a very special kukicha, 120 g
Cold Energy, Green teas, Japan, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, TeaUS$23.8雁が音 - 白折玉露
When the umami, round and refreshing taste of a good Japanese green tea is desired for a party, or for a casual whole day drink, a good quality kukicha is a popular alternative. Like all other kukicha, or shiraore (another popular name of this tea variety), or karigane, Tea Hong’s Karigane Gyokuro is also produced from leaf stems. There is, however, a significant difference. It is produced as a by product of top quality gyokuro, making it sweeter, softer, a lot more savoury, and as refreshing. Like almost all petiole teas, it is more tolerant of infusion discrepancies, making it a great choice for both green tea beginners and as a daily or party drink. It is a great value alternative to gyokuro. Since a large portion of the leaves are replaced with the leaf petioles, this tea is relatively lower in caffeine too.* Net weight: 120g (4.2oz) in Kraft-alu pack
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Kabusecha Gyousei, shade grown green tea, 60 g
Cold Energy, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Japan, Lighter Aromas, TeaUS$18.8伊勢かぶせ茶 暁星
If a traditional style sencha is a little too brisk for you but you feel needing a bit more zest than a gentle gyokuro, try a kabusecha — a tea made from shaded grown bushes much like a gyokuro, although shaded only for half the time. That gives you less of that extra umami, and relatively more of those tea polyphenols for that slight bite and a little more refreshing sensation that you maybe after. Tea Hong’s Kabusecha Gyousei is a top quality selection of this variety. It is produced by Yoshie san’s farm, the same that gives us Ise Gyokuro Mugetsu. Their farm is one of the best in that region, which is popular in the tea trade for shaded grown tea for the production of gyokuro, kabusecha and tencha for producing matcha.
Net weight: 60g (2.1oz) in Kraft-alu pillow -
Ise Gyokuro Chikusen, 60 g
Cold Energy, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Japan, Lighter Aromas, TeaUS$37.3伊勢 逸品玉露 竹仙
Compared to Uji or even Kyushu, the region of Mie is much less talked about as one of the first major tea production areas in Japan. Yet it is still as important a source for high end classical Japanese green tea. Many big brands come here to OEM their products, some even claiming them as from some other more popularly known origins*. That is why we buy directly from the producers here. It is quality that matters to us after all. We have screened the best tasting teas for our offers and Tsutsumi sensei's teas most often come up on top. I guess he was not buffing when he said, “the demand is getting crazy…” Tea Hong’s Ise Gyokuro Chikusen is Tsutsumi sensei's top quality green tea from this most sought after production farm in Mie. In Japan, teas from Mie and neighbouring areas are generally referred to as Ise teas. We follow that local practice. The soft, supple, umami and slightly floral characteristics of a good value gyokuro like this is an optimum choice for receiving guests of all levels of tea appreciation skills, or for that special tranquil moment that you can retreat your overloaded mind to.
Net weight: 60g (2.1oz) in Kraft-alu pillow -
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Tea Taster’s Box: Shengcha Pu’er Cha Bings
Compressed tea, Cool Energy, Fuller Bodies, Pu'er teas, Tea, Yunnan品評人茶樣套裝系列US$59.8陳年生普洱茶餅
If perhaps breaking that beautifully formed tea discus is a little too harsh for your sensitivity, or a bit too inconvenient for your precious teatime, we are doing the job for you; Tea Hong’s Shengcha Pu’er Cha Bings Tea Taster’s Box is a collection of 4 of our tea discuses each in a 30 gram package in small chunks. Now you can sample our most prized Pasha 2013 plus three others high price varieties at the price of an average cha bing. Since we break one piece of each at a time by hand so as to keep the chunks freshly chipped, there are 9 packs only each time. Be prepared for sudden out of stock until we can do the chipping again. Have fun tasting! Contents: 4 packs of chipped cha bing, approx 30 g net weight each pack, in corrugated card box -
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
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Muzha Tieguanyin, deep baked Taiwan oolong, 60 g
Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, Stronger Tastes, Taiwan, Tea, Warm EnergyUS$36.8慢火深焙 木柵觀音
Vintage 2023
Over a century of development since the cultivar’s transplant to Taiwan, tieguanyin produced in the beautiful emerald island is quite different from its cousin in China. Not only has the cultivar evolved differently, but also the continual local development of the authentic technique with which it is produced. Grown in the more conducive terroir of Muzha in the Wenshan area, the leaves here afford a deeper oxidation for a more complex profile even after the traditional deeper baking process. We have picked a premium Spring harvest for Master Chen, our close friend, for her impeccable baking skills to complete the making of Tea Hong’s Muzha Tieguanyin as a superior classic.
Net weight: 60 g (2.1 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow -
Nishio Matcha Setsubai, Ōn Koicha Supreme, 30 g
Cold Energy, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Japan, Lighter Aromas, TeaUS$39.5西尾 極上御濃茶 雪梅
Plum blossoms in the snow
In the southern tip of Aichi prefecture before reaching the Mikawa Bay connecting to the Pacific Ocean, there is a small region that is known as the matcha capital amongst Japanese tea professionals — Nishio. A family farm which began tea production here since the end of 19th century is still thriving here. Two young cousins now run the setup: one oversees the tea farm, the other in the grinding facility. We were not convinced until we were each served with a small chawan of their koicha — the strong serving style as in Omotesenke おもてせんけ tea ceremony — so there was no hiding behind the foamy texture as in usucha, nor the dairy distractions as in matcha latte. When a tea is delivered in such a dense package, every bit of it is clearly revealed. We were struck immediately by its distinctive character: a refreshing “sea character” with a complex, engaging taste profile that is profoundly different from all the other matcha we have had from other regions. To us, it is this uncompromising insistence on its own strong character, rather than following trends toward softer, milder tastes, that deeply resonates. Introducing the best product from the Matcha Capital of Japan, Nishio Matcha Setsubai. Like the plum tree that blossoms even in the snow, a tea with a steadfast spirit that has won our respect.
Net weight: 30g (1.06oz) in pull-lid tincan -
Bulang Peacock 2018, aged Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Compressed tea, Cool Energy, Fuller Bodies, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanPrice range: US$39.0 through US$238.0永明 2018 布朗孔雀
A Xishuangbanna classic
Some believe that tea originated in an area bordering Yunnan, Laos and Myanmar. Bulang Mountain lies in the middle of that within the province of Yunnan on the southern tip of an area called Xishuangbanna. Shengcha from this area is rich with flavours and not overtly strong. We have picked a good value production as an optional entry point for exploring this category of tea. Southern Yunnan is also home to the peacock, the beautiful bird that the indigenous tribes love as a symbol of grace and peace. A good tea is exactly that.
Net weight per discus: 357 g (12.6 oz)
Please choose if you'd like a single discus or the whole stack: -
Old Hong Kong Pou Nei 2012, old style post-fermented Pu’er tea, 70 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Pu'er teas, Tea, YunnanUS$16.3懷舊香港系列 復刻原版 港式老普洱
The original, premodern shu cha Pu’er
For most of the 20th century until the 80’s, Yunnan's rough, overgrown maocha were sold almost entirely to Hong Kong, the British free port that was China's most essential export destination. The extreme low price came in time to satisfy a city whose population had quadrupled with refugees after 1949, and to meet the export need for under-developed economies in Southeast Asia. A "wet storage" method was developed in the small colony to turn the sharp and bitter taste to sweet, smooth and earthily mesmerising. Pou Nei* soon became the most popular tea of its day, found everywhere from teahouses, dimsum restaurants, grassroot eateries, and even my own sub-poverty childhood home. In the 1970s, Yunnan tea specialist Zou Bing Liang came to study the Hong Kong technique, scaled it up and codified it to produce the modern shu cha Pu'er. Yet a little bit something of the original is missing. Tea Hong’s Old Hong Kong Pou Nei is our tribute to that earlier tradition. Crafted to recreate the mellow sweetness, rich earthy aroma, and effortless drinkability, it is both a historical revival and a deeply personal expression of a tea that defined countless everyday moments and cherished memories.
Net weight: 70 g (2.5 oz) in wide Kraft-alu pack -
Yiwu Zheng Shan 2018, Aged Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Compressed tea, Cool Energy, Fuller Bodies, Lighter Aromas, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanPrice range: US$130.0 through US$810.0惠民 真味古茶 2018 易武正山
Huimin authentic old tree series: Mount Yiwu proper
This aged Yiwu may present itself a little softer in the start, but its energy lingers and grows, alive beyond the taste faculty. Yiwu maybe known as one of the softest in the shengcha category, yet properly infused, it can actually be quite powerful. Originated in the deep mountain ranges along the border with Laos, where the weather can be as unpredictable as the wild life one may encounter, the biochemistry of the leaves is as lively and interesting to learn. There are people who prefer this tea quite fresh, but in our opinion it is better aged for a few years. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster's Box: Shengcha Pu'er Cha Bings.
Net weight per discus: 357 g (12.6 oz)
Please choose if you'd like a single discus or the whole stack: -
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 -
Old Tree Golden Flush 2006, Pu’er shu cha bing, 357g
Compressed tea, Floral Aromas, Neutral-Warm Energy, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanUS$43.0勐海古樹金芽茶餅
A pristine origin without the pricetag
Although a mere 15 km away from the much sought after origin of Ban Zhang (班章), Màn Sǎo (曼掃) has a very similar horticultural environment for tea trees. To us, this village in the mountainous Xishuangbanna (西雙版納) region is a great source for tea for its lesser fame that allows for much easier accessibility and and greater values. This fully post-fermented tea is an example. A leaf that has gone through 70+ days (20 days less than some of our other shu pu’er) of true post-fermentation can easily be so mellowed that all its characters pertaining to its unique terroir could have been overly subdued. Yet this Old Tree Golden Flush is still able to tinkle, however harmoniously subtly, with the accents and tones typical of the products from the high altitudes in this southern part of Yunnan bordering Myanmar and Laos. Having been properly baked and amply aged, this TCM neutral-warm tea is not only an adaptable and friendly food pairing tea, but also a submersive experience for your special tea moment.
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Inner Primeval Earth 2021, aged Xiao Hu Sai shengcha Pu’er cha bing, 200 g
Compressed tea, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanUS$31.0私倉銀毫小戶賽
Inner Primeval Earth* is a small deep mountain settlement where tea trees grow from deep, humus rich ancient forest soil, under the 2,800m mountain ridge on the west of the Lincang region, at about 1,600m. The leaves gathered by the Lahu ethnic tribespeople here offer a uniquely intense and complex taste profile unlike those from any nearby areas. We have aged this small cha bing for 5 years in our unique environment before releasing it online. This way, its potentials are properly optimised for you to manifest its wonders in your own tea preparation setup.
Net weight per discus: 200 g (12.6 oz) -
Kyoto Houjicha Powder Premium, 120 g
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Japan, Tea, Warm EnergyUS$33.2京都 極上 粉末 焙じ茶
Top quality at great value
Milled to an ultra-fine particle size of under 10 microns, Tea Hong’s Kyoto Houjicha Powder Premium offers a texture as silky as the highest ceremonial matcha, offering a mesmerising, and deep, dark cacao and molasses profile. Other than the top of the trade grinding setup, the choice of raw material and mastery of the roast are essential elements to create this unique quality. With a unique blend formula created by Grand Tea Master Kikuoka of a high percentage of deep roasted tencha, supported with the sweeter taste of FIR Houjicha, the deep roasting takes place before each session of milling. The intensity of heat together with the optimally paced timing triggers a deep Maillard reaction, transforming the natural amino acids into rich, aromatic pyrazines while preserving a thick, sweet umami backbone. With that heat intensity, we have rested the tea well before releasing, so as to tame down its excess TCM heat energy. Enjoy.
Net weight: 120g (4.2oz) in Kraft-alu pack -
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 輕炒青綠茶
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
