Thanks Tea Hong for the quality tea I've order several Phoenix Oolongs from Tea Hong and they're amazing. Thanks Tea Hong for the quality tea!!!
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Lai Hung En
I've always had top-notch tea from Tea Hong, and after trying so many tea shops around the world (including very expensive ones like Jing Tea in the UK), Tea Hong is one of the few that I keep coming back for. It’s not cheap but it’s worth every penny! I can’t get tea at the same quality anywhere else, so I guess I’ll keep coming back for more!
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Joshua Taylor
Really high quality tea at competitive price I really enjoy their teas, but I have to remember not to wait as they sell out quickly 🙂 for me, oolong is their best (and my favorite) category but their long jing is phenomenal. If you want really high quality tea at competitive (for quality that rarely hits the western market), this is my go-to
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Tanner Schmucker
Consistently impress every time Tea Hong is one of my favorite tea vendors for several reasons. First, and most importantly, their tea is wonderful. I truly have not had a single tea from Tea Hong that I didn't enjoy, and every tea I have tried from them has been of very high quality. I am primarily an oolong drinker (though I've been exploring aged pu'erh recently) and they are one of the first, if not the first, vendors I go to when I am looking to get more Wuyi yancha, Phoenix dan cong, gaoshan, or hung shui. The Wuyi yancha I have tried from them has been some of the best I've tried thus far, ESPECIALLY in that price range. I seriously, the Cassia Extraordinaire is probably the best yancha I have tried from anywhere, and costed less than some of the other "premium" quality yancha sold elsewhere. And of course there's their Phoenix dan cong. The dan cong I have tried from them is always interesting and complex, and a delight to drink. Their Honey Orchid Supreme (Mi Lan Xiang) was very good: fruity, floral, long aftertaste, complex, longevity, everything one looks for in a good quality dan cong. Aside from the quality of their tea, Tea Hong's customer service is great too. Every time I email them, even when it's just to chat or ask basic questions, I get a response quickly. They don't mind sharing their opinion on things, and they don't mind speaking frankly and truthfully about their teas. So yeah, I am very happy that Tea Hong is around. There's a ton of tea vendors that have some great teas, but there are few that have an entire selection of great teas and can consistently impress every time I order. They will certainly remain on the top of my list for as long as I drink tea 🙂 Looking forward to my next order.
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Steven Goldstein
I believe that Leo is the greatest tea connaisseur that I have ever meet
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Matthew Grohne
Especially Phoenix oolong One of my favorite places to buy tea, especially Phoenix oolong (though the Laos Shengcha, now out of stock, is also one of my favorite teas overall). Excellent quality and service every time.
Leo is the TEA Man Leo is the TEA Man. His Knowledge is beyond compare and he is dedicated to his cause of helping us all understand and appreciate the many nuances and attributes of tea.. He is the creator and founder of the Ming Cha brand.
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NN
the very best, without a doubt I've consumed more than 1,000 different teas from over 100 vendors during the past 20+ years, and in my opinion it doesn't get much better than Tea Hong. Not only is this entire catalog curated and selected to be among the finest teas available anywhere in the world, but the level of detail that goes into both this website and Leo's other website (Tea Guardian) is a reflection of how passionate Leo is about educating tea drinkers around the world.
This entire catalog is curated and selected to be among the finest teas available anywhere in the world - and if you're looking for Phoenix Mountain oolongs, look no further, Leo has put together the absolute best that any connoisseur could ever wish for. The price to quality ratio is unbeatable and the flavor profiles are exquisite beyond belief. I never knew such gastronomic qualities could be achieved at such reasonable price points... Tea Hong truly is the mecca for Fenghuang oolong.
Across the full range of offerings, the attention to subtle nuances is unparalleled. Every tea I have tried is worth every penny, and the information about each tea is worth every second of your time. I am glad to have explored the world of tea through the lens of many different vendors, and found some great ones along the way, but after having discovered Tea Hong, I feel completely and entirely satisfied in my life. I no longer seek out new vendors, and I find myself only buying tea from Leo. I know that, whatever I buy from Tea Hong, it's going to be mind-numbingly impressive, and I can always count on Leo to offer the very best tea at prices that other vendors could never match.
I am happy to be able to support Tea Hong and I think everybody should as well. Even the most discerning and demanding aficionados will find something that will blow their minds no matter what their favorite teas are. For me, personally, that is Fenghuang dancong, and I can say without a doubt there is no better vendor out there. Save your money and do yourself a favor - come and explore the very best collection that anybody could ever dream of and wish for.
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Karen Elias Ager
Absolute pinnacle of quality teas Tea Hong offers the absolute pinnacle of quality teas. Certainly nothing else I'd previously experienced compares to Tea Hong. "Expert" tea shops in the U.S. pale in comparison. Tea Hong's proprietor and tea evangelist Leo Kwan ensures that the product is fairly traded and pure. Kwan makes regular forays into mainland China and elsewhere and has long-established relationships with expert growers, many of whom are from tea families dating back for generations. He and his team describe each offering with the same qualitative language as you'd expect from a wine sommelier. There is truly nothing more exciting than when the Tea Hong box arrives from Hong Kong filled with exotic and aromatic leaves, each variety with its own distinct shape, texture, color, smell and flavor. World travel in every cup.
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Tony de Jasay
I have never been disappointed Tea Hong Oolongs are of a very high standard. So is the service, though the postal charges are a burden to a UK resident. I have never been disappointed, except by the withdrawal of the Phoenix Osmanthus from their range! Phoenix Classic is even part of the family arsenal when fighting of a cold! And thank you for the interesting articles and photos.
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Leoš Wolny
Really the top Your shop is really the top between all tea shops. If I could I would like to run tea shop in the same style and professional level like Tea Hong.
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Lisa Rogers
Some of the best dancong you can get Some of the best dancong you can get your hands on abroad! Plus Siu (their customer service rep) is amazingly helpful and friendly. They offer regular sales to help make their high quality products within reach when you want to get yourself a treat, and their lower priced offers are still quite tasty! My only complaint is: stuff goes out of stock so quickly! I guess rare and precious things are very limited in quantity... but there are so many offerings I oogle and want to try someday when they are in stock.
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Frankee Muller
I have been reading Leo Kwan's Tea Guardian website for years. Every time I have a question about tea he is the first source I go to. I was thrilled when he launched Tea Hong because I knew he would only carry the best of the best teas, and I was not disappointed. Customer service is excellent in every way. The teas are expertly packaged so as to arrive in perfect condition. Superior quality Tea Hong's mantra.
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Patricio Hurtado Escobar
Really hard to get better teas than this Teahong has been the major source of my own tea consumption. It's really hard to get better teas than this ones. My favourites: dancong oolongs.
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Carlos Jorge Higuchi
Just like high end Japanese sake A company that has the highest quality product control and information available of product Origen and rating. just like high end Japan sake and high end food and beverage. tea Hong and its owner Leo Kwan is head and shoulders in the Chinese tea world. It is a good as it gets. truly recommend trying the Teas carefully following instruction in making the best tea infusion possible. the Tea alone is not enough to make a great tea experience. Water and its temperature, tea pot,tea cup,technical skill in pouring the water in the tea pot. But most important is the heart and energy of the person while handling the infusion. tea Hong has taught me all this.
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What they say about specific products
Some customers have shared what they think about a product by posting reviews in the product pages. There are quite a number of them. These are a few arbitrarily selected by a computer script to display below.
Would you like to tell others what you think of a tea too? Go to the respective product page and post it now.
Classic White Utility Gaiwan 150
Beautiful, firm and super value
The real thing is actually even more beautiful than the photos. It is not only a joy to look at but also fits the hand very well. Unbelievable value.
Jean v. Young
White Peony Classic Floral
A good tea in office
Though its taste is rather simple compared to my favourite oolong phoenix teas, this white peony is easy to brew with tea mug, my only teaware in the office. I think it is quite an economic choice that I have it nearly daily.
kuk_chung_yan
Cassia Extraordinaire, Wuyi yancha oolong
My most expensive tea ever, and loving it!
I should have written about a few other oolongs I tried since my happy experience with Phoenix Bittersweet, but I have to share with you this one. This is the most expensive tea I have ever bought and so pleased with it. It has a great sweet wood taste and a very interesting spice to it. Not hot or pungent or anything like that, but very memorable character. Warm, refreshing aroma and very tasteful tea. I have stopped alcohol for 6 years now, this tea is like a very fine wine, except that this keeps me sober and feeling healthy 😉
Brigitte Thompson
Honey Concubine, deep baked Taiwan oolong
This is a very complex oolong, it took me a few sessions using both gong-fu and Western-style to feel like I had developed a sufficient enough understanding to leave a review.
Take your time with these leaves, don’t rush them. They take a while to open up, and when they do, there are so many layers of flavor that you can peel back slowly and meticulously through a focused approach whether you’re doing gong-fu or Western-style.
Push the leaves towards the end of the session, give them a nice hot bath and let them steep for so long that a timer doesn’t really matter anymore. This tea holds its composure very well and is graceful in its finish.
The trick with this tea is to take your time with it. I can’t stress that enough – take the time to have a relaxed and steady session with it. Sip it slowly, pay attention to the evolution of flavors as the soup cools, and see what aromatics you can lift off the bottom of an empty cup as it cools. You’ll probably find so much that; like me, you’ll have to brew it up again a few times in order to understand it even once.
I see why this is an award-winning tea.
NN
Mini Peony, matured white tea
Aroma-evoked memories
As a child, my summer mornings were often spent in an open field, examining nature’s tiniest details. Mini Peony takes me back there with its tourmaline-yellow liquor and light, fresh aroma of purple clover, daisy and Queen Anne’s Lace. There’s also an herbal scent reminiscent of the sticky milkweed pods I would pull apart to examine. The infused leaves of this tea are a pleasant tangle resembling pea tendrils. Compared to the other white teas I’ve tried, Mini Peony is brighter and softer in taste with a surprisingly round, smooth and substantial texture. If only I could lift the lid off my gaiwan to hear birdsong and buzzing cicadas, my childhood flashback would be complete.
Karen Ager
Snow Orchid, bouquet Phoenix dancong oolong
ANOTHER POWERHOUSE
My, my, this tea is full of flavor. Dry leaf aroma of melon. Pale yellow liquor with smooth, floral bouqet that fill the mouth. Huigan is big and long. Tremendous flavor rests on the tongue. Thick mouthfeel. This could be somewhat over the top, and perhaps less leaf should be used unless you are looking for a powerhouse of a perfumed Dancong. Many, many, brews. Quite enjoyable. This is the best selection of Dancong from any dealer I know in Asia.
Great discipline in the use of fire distinguishes Cassia Extraordinaire from most other Wuyi varieties with a supple, deliciously floral and delicate scent balanced with a full, lively body. Thanks to this masterful baking, this lighter style Wuyi oolong keeps well and improves with extended storage, as it should traditionally. This is our most “bouquet” style Wuyi oolong, being on the other end of the scale as the deep baked classic style Cassia Classic or Red Cloak Grande in Tea Hong’s proud Wuyi repertoire.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
This Fenghuang Dancong is rare in many ways. It is the best Eight Immortals we have tasted, including award winning ones. Not only is it mild but flavorful like a good Baxian should be, but also gently and yet persistently fragrant. The baked finish is optimise for depth in taste. This gives side benefits for friendliness to the weaker stomach as well as the potential for maturity. Not an easy task for making a bouquet style Phoenix oolong. Master Lin who grows this is a shy and mild person and an old friend. We could not be offering it at such great value otherwise.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
Post-fermentation in pu’er production is like black tea processing in that it gives sweetness, roundness and body to a tea, although it is a far more specialised, time-consuming and difficult method to master. The result, however, is a shu cha possible of a far more complex and intriguing taste profile. To achieve that, we need to begin with a good raw material. That’s where the old tea tree forests in Bulang Mountain comes in. The diversity in these wild growing trees and the deep rich soils they grow in offer leaves that are not only rich in polyphenols, but also minerals and amino acids that are the prerequisites for an outstanding tea. That is why the subregion is one of the most renowned in Yunnan.
Tea Hong has selected a very small workshop who respects the process so much that they even manually compress the post-fermented tealeaves using traditional style stone mortars rather than a pneumatic press. Their mastery results in a very firmly formed cha bing with a deep full body. Presenting Tea Hong’s Bulang Old Tree 2011. Handpicked first flush painstakingly post-fermented for 75 days before compression. Den matured at Tea Hong for those who want a lot from their shu cha pu’er.
There are two product variants to choose from:
A single discus of 357g net weight in the original paper wrap, or a traditional vending form of 7 cha bings bundled in a bamboo sleeve, net weight totalling 2.5 kg.
Please click below to see either options.
One issue with smaller gaiwans made from porcelain is the balance of weight while infusing and handling. The lightness in a small volume also means easier heat loss. The use of stoneware alleviate both issues. The brim is made thin, even and firm for easy control when decanting, while the body wall gradually thickens towards the centre for good heat retention. The glass like celadon overglaze makes the vessel as good as porcelain, only with the advantages of a more substantial body. The "Happiness" gaiwan is one of two hand scripted smaller size selections we have picked from Dehua.
The two characters for the term "xi le" — happiness — are handwritten separately on the inside and the outside of the gaiwan body. The name of this style of calligraphic script is "Xing Shu" or "Hsing Shu" dependent on which translation system. Or it can be called a semi-cursive script. In dynastic era, it was a non-formal script style used for daily communication but not for formal documents.
Although the name rougui is the same as that variety from Wuyi, this tea is from a pure breed Fenghuang Dancong Shuixian cultivar. Sexual propagation of tea trees does give happy surprises and this is an example of it. Discovered and isolated in 1970 by a horticulturalist Mr Wei and has maintained a low profile to avoid unneeded trouble during the height of Cultural Revolution, the cultivar Fenghuang Rougui Xiang Dancong is only gradually picking up attention recently. Not all farmers are doing it right. It is a slow growing tea and only one harvest per year. We think every leaf is worth the search.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
In the early 80’s when the tea was first available to the market, tea tasters described Jinxuan oolong as having an accent of milk. The simple remark has sparked waves of imitation products, all involving adding flavouring. This continues until today. Jinxuan maybe one of the more popular cultivars in Taiwan, but it takes mastery to harvest and process it properly for that natural and slight “milk” accents, and all the other finer tea qualities. Tea Hong’s Alishan Jinxuan is just that. Non-blended first flush superbly produced to the same balance as Prof Wu Zhenduo* had originally intended it to be. As the same cleansing, soft taste profile that made it famous in the beginning. Nothing added, purely as we have always like our tea to be.
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow
No this is not the beer but 100% pure oolong. Wuyi classic oolongs in general distinguish themselves from other oolongs with a stout, rather immediate and powerful impact. Tea Hong’s Cream Stout differs from the crowd with a soft creamy finish and a light tone of cream that is developed naturally in the tealeaves themselves. This is possible only with a new pedigree of tea cultivar, Aijiao Wulong. We believe you’ll like the oolong much better than the beer, as we do.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
Before Chaozhou Guest Hotel was privatised, this officially appointed lodging for visiting high-ranking government officials used to serve only classic style Phoenix oolongs in all of their restaurants*. Tea Hong’s Phoenix Classic could well be the special quality in the large white porcelain teapot on the breakfast table sitting next to bamboo steamers holding finely crafted dim sums for the privileged guests. All fine and quintessential characters of the classic Phoenix oolong can be found in this tea — Sweet, fruity, and lively with notes of peach and dried longan, lychee and sweet potato. A proud heritage of Guangdong oolong.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
The plum blossom blooms in mid to late January against the bitterness of Winter. That is why ancient literati had a high regard of the flower, for its metaphoric representation of people with the strength and endurance of holding on Righteousness, even when facing violent repression by the powerful.
Symbolism aside, the gaiwan's round belly form provides a minimal surface area to volume ratio to maximise heat retention, while fanning out at the brim to quicken cooling for easy handling and smooth decantation. This is a classic shape. The lid has a well form dome for trapping air. A lid button has a well formed hollow to keep itself cool enough for resting your finger on it when handling.
Not many black teas can achieve a smooth and full body. To have a floral, yet warm aroma with spicy sweetness and complexity of dried fruit would be a luxury. Tongmuguan One makes it even better by delivering the whole package with a sophisticated balance and yet subtle uniqueness unfound in its peers. A very limited batch produced in the mecca of xiao zhong gungfu black tea, Tongmuguan, this finely processed leaves of Meizhan is precious not because it is rare, but because it is so demanding to produce to this quality. It is not every year that we can achieve a gem like this.
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
Guifei Oolong ( or Honey Concubine Tea, literally translated ) is a deep-baked, medium oxidation ( 25 ~ 30% ) oolong produced from the Ruan Zhi cultivar in the Dong Ding ( Cold Peak ) area. It is different from the traditional Cold Peak oolong. The leaves of Guifei are bitten by green leafhoppers before plucking. The bug attack triggers a chain of biochemical reactions in the leaves that result in the complex honey notes that typify this tea. It was inspired by the way Oriental Beauty acquires its unique taste profile. However the two teas taste very differently through each’s own unique oolong processing approaches and pluck timing.
The tea was invented after the devastation of an earthquake in September 1999, when the farmers had to create more revenue to rebuild their lost homes. «Read more»
Fired to perfection by our producer the multiple award-winning tea master Chen Yu Wen, the tea has been aged to perfection at our own den in Hong Kong.
Net weight: 70g (2.5oz) in Kraft-alu pillow pack
In the first decade of my tea career I used to neglect shengcha puer as an over-hyped lot. Poor products flooded so much of the market that the category alienated itself from me as a tea lover. Pasha changed all that. Its beautiful complexity converted me. From there on I have made a conscious effort in screening true gems amidst crowds of trite. ( Isn’t that true in all other tea varieties as well?) Shengcha from various subregions now has earned a place in my own repertoire. That from Pasha, however, is still my most preferred.
Master Zou’s ( Lao Tong Zhi ) team has certainly done a very good job in making this cha bing. This batch was exactly the same one that I tasted in his workshop in Yunnan and when I was converted and decided that I would carry the tea. These years of maturing have most wonderfully brought more depth and body to both the aroma and taste. We have set it at the lower market price available anywhere in the hope that more can experience this amazing tea.
This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster's Box: Shengcha Pu'er Cha Bings. If you are interested, a loose leaf Pu'er shengcha also from Pasha is available in the shop: Pasha Old Tree
Net weight per discus: 500 g (17.6 oz)
Please choose if you'd like a single discus or the whole stack:
What they say about our shop
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Tell people what you think of Tea Hong
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What they say about specific products
Some customers have shared what they think about a product by posting reviews in the product pages. There are quite a number of them. These are a few arbitrarily selected by a computer script to display below.
Would you like to tell others what you think of a tea too? Go to the respective product page and post it now.
Classic White Utility Gaiwan 150
Beautiful, firm and super value
The real thing is actually even more beautiful than the photos. It is not only a joy to look at but also fits the hand very well. Unbelievable value.
White Peony Classic Floral
A good tea in office
Though its taste is rather simple compared to my favourite oolong phoenix teas, this white peony is easy to brew with tea mug, my only teaware in the office. I think it is quite an economic choice that I have it nearly daily.
Cassia Extraordinaire, Wuyi yancha oolong
My most expensive tea ever, and loving it!
I should have written about a few other oolongs I tried since my happy experience with Phoenix Bittersweet, but I have to share with you this one. This is the most expensive tea I have ever bought and so pleased with it. It has a great sweet wood taste and a very interesting spice to it. Not hot or pungent or anything like that, but very memorable character. Warm, refreshing aroma and very tasteful tea. I have stopped alcohol for 6 years now, this tea is like a very fine wine, except that this keeps me sober and feeling healthy 😉
Honey Concubine, deep baked Taiwan oolong
This is a very complex oolong, it took me a few sessions using both gong-fu and Western-style to feel like I had developed a sufficient enough understanding to leave a review.
Take your time with these leaves, don’t rush them. They take a while to open up, and when they do, there are so many layers of flavor that you can peel back slowly and meticulously through a focused approach whether you’re doing gong-fu or Western-style.
Push the leaves towards the end of the session, give them a nice hot bath and let them steep for so long that a timer doesn’t really matter anymore. This tea holds its composure very well and is graceful in its finish.
The trick with this tea is to take your time with it. I can’t stress that enough – take the time to have a relaxed and steady session with it. Sip it slowly, pay attention to the evolution of flavors as the soup cools, and see what aromatics you can lift off the bottom of an empty cup as it cools. You’ll probably find so much that; like me, you’ll have to brew it up again a few times in order to understand it even once.
I see why this is an award-winning tea.
Mini Peony, matured white tea
Aroma-evoked memories
As a child, my summer mornings were often spent in an open field, examining nature’s tiniest details. Mini Peony takes me back there with its tourmaline-yellow liquor and light, fresh aroma of purple clover, daisy and Queen Anne’s Lace. There’s also an herbal scent reminiscent of the sticky milkweed pods I would pull apart to examine. The infused leaves of this tea are a pleasant tangle resembling pea tendrils. Compared to the other white teas I’ve tried, Mini Peony is brighter and softer in taste with a surprisingly round, smooth and substantial texture. If only I could lift the lid off my gaiwan to hear birdsong and buzzing cicadas, my childhood flashback would be complete.
Snow Orchid, bouquet Phoenix dancong oolong
ANOTHER POWERHOUSE
My, my, this tea is full of flavor. Dry leaf aroma of melon. Pale yellow liquor with smooth, floral bouqet that fill the mouth. Huigan is big and long. Tremendous flavor rests on the tongue. Thick mouthfeel. This could be somewhat over the top, and perhaps less leaf should be used unless you are looking for a powerhouse of a perfumed Dancong. Many, many, brews. Quite enjoyable. This is the best selection of Dancong from any dealer I know in Asia.
Random top customer-rated products
Cassia Extraordinaire, Wuyi yancha oolong
Tea, Oolongs, Wuyi-shan, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral EnergyTea Hong’s Most Bouquet Wuyi Oolong
Great discipline in the use of fire distinguishes Cassia Extraordinaire from most other Wuyi varieties with a supple, deliciously floral and delicate scent balanced with a full, lively body. Thanks to this masterful baking, this lighter style Wuyi oolong keeps well and improves with extended storage, as it should traditionally. This is our most “bouquet” style Wuyi oolong, being on the other end of the scale as the deep baked classic style Cassia Classic or Red Cloak Grande in Tea Hong’s proud Wuyi repertoire.Eight Immortals Wudong, Phoenix dancong oolong
Cool Energy, Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, TeaBaxian Supreme:
This Fenghuang Dancong is rare in many ways. It is the best Eight Immortals we have tasted, including award winning ones. Not only is it mild but flavorful like a good Baxian should be, but also gently and yet persistently fragrant. The baked finish is optimise for depth in taste. This gives side benefits for friendliness to the weaker stomach as well as the potential for maturity. Not an easy task for making a bouquet style Phoenix oolong. Master Lin who grows this is a shy and mild person and an old friend. We could not be offering it at such great value otherwise.Bulang Old Tree 2011, Pu’er shu cha bing
Compressed tea, Floral Aromas, Neutral-Warm Energy, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanStone Mortar Pressed Shu Cha Bing
Post-fermentation in pu’er production is like black tea processing in that it gives sweetness, roundness and body to a tea, although it is a far more specialised, time-consuming and difficult method to master. The result, however, is a shu cha possible of a far more complex and intriguing taste profile. To achieve that, we need to begin with a good raw material. That’s where the old tea tree forests in Bulang Mountain comes in. The diversity in these wild growing trees and the deep rich soils they grow in offer leaves that are not only rich in polyphenols, but also minerals and amino acids that are the prerequisites for an outstanding tea. That is why the subregion is one of the most renowned in Yunnan. Tea Hong has selected a very small workshop who respects the process so much that they even manually compress the post-fermented tealeaves using traditional style stone mortars rather than a pneumatic press. Their mastery results in a very firmly formed cha bing with a deep full body. Presenting Tea Hong’s Bulang Old Tree 2011. Handpicked first flush painstakingly post-fermented for 75 days before compression. Den matured at Tea Hong for those who want a lot from their shu cha pu’er.Happiness Gaiwan
Gaiwans, Stoneware, Tea AccessoriesA small gaiwan for the serious drinker
One issue with smaller gaiwans made from porcelain is the balance of weight while infusing and handling. The lightness in a small volume also means easier heat loss. The use of stoneware alleviate both issues. The brim is made thin, even and firm for easy control when decanting, while the body wall gradually thickens towards the centre for good heat retention. The glass like celadon overglaze makes the vessel as good as porcelain, only with the advantages of a more substantial body. The "Happiness" gaiwan is one of two hand scripted smaller size selections we have picked from Dehua. The two characters for the term "xi le" — happiness — are handwritten separately on the inside and the outside of the gaiwan body. The name of this style of calligraphic script is "Xing Shu" or "Hsing Shu" dependent on which translation system. Or it can be called a semi-cursive script. In dynastic era, it was a non-formal script style used for daily communication but not for formal documents.Wudong Cassia, Phoenix dancong oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaRougui Xiang Dancong
Although the name rougui is the same as that variety from Wuyi, this tea is from a pure breed Fenghuang Dancong Shuixian cultivar. Sexual propagation of tea trees does give happy surprises and this is an example of it. Discovered and isolated in 1970 by a horticulturalist Mr Wei and has maintained a low profile to avoid unneeded trouble during the height of Cultural Revolution, the cultivar Fenghuang Rougui Xiang Dancong is only gradually picking up attention recently. Not all farmers are doing it right. It is a slow growing tea and only one harvest per year. We think every leaf is worth the search.Winter Alishan Jinxuan, bouquet style Taiwan oolong
Cold Energy, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Oolongs, Taiwan, Teathe oolong with an accent of milk
In the early 80’s when the tea was first available to the market, tea tasters described Jinxuan oolong as having an accent of milk. The simple remark has sparked waves of imitation products, all involving adding flavouring. This continues until today. Jinxuan maybe one of the more popular cultivars in Taiwan, but it takes mastery to harvest and process it properly for that natural and slight “milk” accents, and all the other finer tea qualities. Tea Hong’s Alishan Jinxuan is just that. Non-blended first flush superbly produced to the same balance as Prof Wu Zhenduo* had originally intended it to be. As the same cleansing, soft taste profile that made it famous in the beginning. Nothing added, purely as we have always like our tea to be.Cream Stout, Wuyi yancha oolong
Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Tea, Wuyi-shanSilk Finish Aijiao Wulong:
No this is not the beer but 100% pure oolong. Wuyi classic oolongs in general distinguish themselves from other oolongs with a stout, rather immediate and powerful impact. Tea Hong’s Cream Stout differs from the crowd with a soft creamy finish and a light tone of cream that is developed naturally in the tealeaves themselves. This is possible only with a new pedigree of tea cultivar, Aijiao Wulong. We believe you’ll like the oolong much better than the beer, as we do.Phoenix Classic, dancong oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, TeaFenghuang Baiye:
Before Chaozhou Guest Hotel was privatised, this officially appointed lodging for visiting high-ranking government officials used to serve only classic style Phoenix oolongs in all of their restaurants*. Tea Hong’s Phoenix Classic could well be the special quality in the large white porcelain teapot on the breakfast table sitting next to bamboo steamers holding finely crafted dim sums for the privileged guests. All fine and quintessential characters of the classic Phoenix oolong can be found in this tea — Sweet, fruity, and lively with notes of peach and dried longan, lychee and sweet potato. A proud heritage of Guangdong oolong.Celeste Green Gaiwan
Gaiwans, Tea Accessories, White porcelainThe plum blossom blooms in mid to late January against the bitterness of Winter. That is why ancient literati had a high regard of the flower, for its metaphoric representation of people with the strength and endurance of holding on Righteousness, even when facing violent repression by the powerful.
Symbolism aside, the gaiwan's round belly form provides a minimal surface area to volume ratio to maximise heat retention, while fanning out at the brim to quicken cooling for easy handling and smooth decantation. This is a classic shape. The lid has a well form dome for trapping air. A lid button has a well formed hollow to keep itself cool enough for resting your finger on it when handling.
Tongmuguan One, traditional black tea
Black teas, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Warm Energy, Tea, Wuyi-shanRare Quality Meizhan Hong Cha
Not many black teas can achieve a smooth and full body. To have a floral, yet warm aroma with spicy sweetness and complexity of dried fruit would be a luxury. Tongmuguan One makes it even better by delivering the whole package with a sophisticated balance and yet subtle uniqueness unfound in its peers. A very limited batch produced in the mecca of xiao zhong gungfu black tea, Tongmuguan, this finely processed leaves of Meizhan is precious not because it is rare, but because it is so demanding to produce to this quality. It is not every year that we can achieve a gem like this.Honey Concubine, deep baked Taiwan oolong
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Taiwan, TeaGuifei Oolong from Cold Peak
Guifei Oolong ( or Honey Concubine Tea, literally translated ) is a deep-baked, medium oxidation ( 25 ~ 30% ) oolong produced from the Ruan Zhi cultivar in the Dong Ding ( Cold Peak ) area. It is different from the traditional Cold Peak oolong. The leaves of Guifei are bitten by green leafhoppers before plucking. The bug attack triggers a chain of biochemical reactions in the leaves that result in the complex honey notes that typify this tea. It was inspired by the way Oriental Beauty acquires its unique taste profile. However the two teas taste very differently through each’s own unique oolong processing approaches and pluck timing. The tea was invented after the devastation of an earthquake in September 1999, when the farmers had to create more revenue to rebuild their lost homes. «Read more» Fired to perfection by our producer the multiple award-winning tea master Chen Yu Wen, the tea has been aged to perfection at our own den in Hong Kong. Net weight: 70g (2.5oz) in Kraft-alu pillow packPasha 2013, matured Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Compressed tea, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanZou Bing Liang’s master piece
In the first decade of my tea career I used to neglect shengcha puer as an over-hyped lot. Poor products flooded so much of the market that the category alienated itself from me as a tea lover. Pasha changed all that. Its beautiful complexity converted me. From there on I have made a conscious effort in screening true gems amidst crowds of trite. ( Isn’t that true in all other tea varieties as well?) Shengcha from various subregions now has earned a place in my own repertoire. That from Pasha, however, is still my most preferred. Master Zou’s ( Lao Tong Zhi ) team has certainly done a very good job in making this cha bing. This batch was exactly the same one that I tasted in his workshop in Yunnan and when I was converted and decided that I would carry the tea. These years of maturing have most wonderfully brought more depth and body to both the aroma and taste. We have set it at the lower market price available anywhere in the hope that more can experience this amazing tea. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster's Box: Shengcha Pu'er Cha Bings. If you are interested, a loose leaf Pu'er shengcha also from Pasha is available in the shop: Pasha Old Tree