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.
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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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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Teddy Lionel
The only online tea shop that I will ever buy from Since reading Leo Kwan's tea blog (Tea Guardian), I had been longing to try for myself true quality teas, especially Phoenix Oolongs which I had never heard before. Well, thank God that he set up Tea Hong, I could finally experience those teas from a trustworthy source, the tea master himself ! Tea Hong might be rather new in online market, but they have been improving themselves and the customer service is great, not to mention the frequent sales and special offers 🙂 . This is the only online tea shop that I will ever buy from.
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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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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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Steven Goldstein
I believe that Leo is the greatest tea connaisseur that I have ever meet
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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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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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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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Deborah Biber
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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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.
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Lui Wui Sze Olivia
Great value for quality teas Great value for quality teas. The shopping experiences are also excellent because there are detailed product information available on the site. Whenever you have questions about the teas (e.g. teas for pregnant women?) or teawares (e.g. how to choose a tea pot), just ask and the people in teahong will answer you in great details. Like phoenix oolong the most 😉
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Richard Lee
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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Asaf Mazar
A source that I trust for pure, authentic tea Definitely impressed with the speed and quality of service. The tea I received was vibrant and fresh, with strong aroma. Some sites offer a large selection, and you have to try to find the good ones. Tea hong offers a well curated selection, taking out the guesswork. Bottom line: This is a source that I trust for pure, authentic tea.
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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.
Hong Yu Deep White, deep oxidation Taiwan white tea
Glad you like the tea. Indeed a quick wash can already render a pleasant feeling. However, as responded previously to your other comments, a longer steep does render a more complete profile of a tea and will bring a wider horizon to the appreciation and enjoyment of it, and the world of tea at large. Do let us know how you do in your journey in this direction.
Leo Kwan
Yixing Factory One: Duan-ni with Applique
It is the first time I buy teapot at Tea Hong, and I feel so good.
The duan-ni Duo Qiu teapot is very nice. Moreover I also get a good Meizhan Classic 2015 tea-pack sample and a lovely letter from Tea Hong.
The only thing that trouble me is that Tea Hong do not ship directly to Vietnam, so I really do not know how can I buy more good tea and teapot in future.
With Best Regards,
Tu Pham
pntu.ktes
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
Eight Immortals Wudong, Phoenix dancong oolong
My friend recommend this tea to me and I really thank him. The tea gives me the impression as if eight immortals are gathered around a place and enjoying their lives
hads218
Hong Yu Deep White, deep oxidation Taiwan white tea
A lovely, complex, and vibrant white tea, with so many layers of flavor and well-defined nuances that it’s really difficult to describe. You have to try this tea in order to understand what it tastes like.
It’s sweet, smooth, and herbaceous, with malty undertones and minty overtones. It’s silky as it glides across the palate, and brings a cooling sensation that is unique. Within a matter of a couple seconds, that deceptively smooth soup explodes into a flavor bomb that lasts for several minutes on the palate and creates a very deep and rich aftertaste.
This tea is also remarkably flexible, and responds well to a variety of different brewing techniques. I’ve brewed it up gong-fu style, Western-style, and I’ve even used other methods that some purists would say are blasphemous – but the real beauty of this tea is in its ability to return some of the most delicious cups of tea you’ll ever have regardless of how you brew it up.
A must-try if you’re looking for a complex and sophisticated experience in the category of white tea.
NN
Danhu Old Bush Song Cultivar, Phoenix dancong oolong
This is a very fantastic tea. I usually like the more fruity Dan Congs, such as the Eight Immortals Wudong or the Huangzhi Xiang Classic and have tried some more fruity Song Zhong from other sellers. But this tea, even though it doesn’t have the strong fruitiness that I usually enjoy so much, still makes me appreciate this tea even more for its very pleasant taste which I would probably describe as vanilla pinewood with a very pleasant sweetness. This tea has a very long and pleasant aftertaste and during the session the whole room fills with the unique smell of this tea.
But I think what makes this tea so unique for me is that its taste has a certain calm wisdom to it. Drinking this tea almost feels like a form of mediation that directs my thoughts inwards and makes me think about the things in life that truly matter. I don’t think any other tea I’ve drunk so far has so much wisdom in its taste. This works very well with the calming body sensation that this tea brings during the session. It is a gem in my tea collection that really has the perfect balance.
I prefer to brew it using 3g in a 100ml clay pot at 95°C, increasing the temperature to 99°C for the later infusions to get more out of the leaves.
While White Peony from Fuding tastes more floral, that from the other earliest region, Zhenghe, tastes longer and deeper. The more tedious curing process is marked by the darker colors on the leaves. While many prize Silver Needle Supreme for its delicate taste and furry appearance, a superb traditional white tea as White Peony Classic Long delivers a more impressive taste experience. That may explain why this Mudan Wang, aka King of White Peony, is considered the best and most classical representation from the origin, and a favourite by many tea connoisseurs. As most aficionados prefer it, we have always matured this tea adequately before releasing it in the shop. The current stock is a single batch first flush ( i.e. pre-Qing-ming ) harvest from 2019.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in wide Kraft-alu pack
To us, offering the extremely rare Shiguping Wulong is not a challenge enough. We think we should give you the best of its kind. Trekking further deep into the mountain above the elusive main village of Shiguping, we found the patch of land which the locals called Liao-xi-ya, where it all began. The tea is softer, yet fuller and even more complex than that in the main village. The very original Shiguping Wulong*, as highly acclaimed by the man who devoted all of his life in advocating oolongs of Phoenix, the 74 years-old tea specialist Huang Bozi.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
To experience why this unique Taiwan white tip oolong was nicknamed Oriental Beauty by Queen Elizabeth II, you have to taste the real thing. It is perhaps the most demanding tea to process well. Harvested only once a year in summer and after the young leaves are bitten by a kind of tiny leafhopper, genuine Dongfang Meiren can attain its special taste profile only after following the oolong processing routine modified especially for this tea. Tea Hong’s Phong-hong tè — the original name of Oriental Beauty — is a prime selection from the origin in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster’s Box: Nine Oolong Samplers.
Net weight: 50 g ( 1.8 oz ) in Kraft-alu pack
Some people like their green tea soft and sweet, others may prefer a good umami. Yet this leaf shoot tea is neither. Its brisk, lively full body is accentuated with a refreshing aroma and a distinct note of bitterness. After Longjing, of all the other green teas from the Zhejiang region, my personal strongest preference goes to this traditional green tea form of Bamboo Leaf produced in Kaihua. To me it is an alternative to a shot of single malt in the evening, or an afternoon kick of espresso. Maybe more pleasant and invigorating.
This style form is produced in a few other tea regions in China. The taste profile does vary from region to region, and even from farm to farm, tea master to tea master. In Emei Shan in Szechuan, the traditional form style name, Zhu Ye Qing, which transliterates as Bamboo Leaf Green, is registered as a brand name by a powerful local tea company. Other farmers and tea companies who have been producing in this same style form are then required by law to sell their products in different names. One of them is Mingshan Shihua.
Tea Hong's Bamboo Leaf is a rare quality representing not only the broader taste profile of this style form, but also the intriguing intricacy that gives true quality tea its elevating magic.
Produced using a Phoenix native cultivar Da Baiye ( i.e. Big White Leaf ), and has certain taste similarity as the rarer Song Cultivar Huangzhi Xiang, this tea is popular amongst traders for use as a substitute for the pricier label. Tea Hong’s top quality selection, Big White is certainly a good demonstration of how this tea can fool the lesser experienced connoisseurs. That said, however, the trained tongue can certainly tell it is a fine tea on its own for the uniqueness in its floral aroma, silky texture and soft, smooth body.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
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. This "Rural Life" gaiwan is one of two hand scripted smaller size selections we have picked from Dehua.
The first four lines from a Tang Dynasty poem "Rural Life" are handwritten on the perimeter of the gaiwan. The style of this calligraphic script is Cao Shu, a cursive script. Some call it running script. It seems that the brush was indeed running when the characters were being brushed on the ceramic biscuit.
茶碗上以草書體寫唐代賈島的一首詩，「郊居即事」的開頭四句：
The complex, yet bright and lively floral aroma of this tea is associated with a native flower, yelai xiang, aka Chinese violet. It is a vine yielding light yellow small flowers that are especially fragrant at night, hence the name, yelai xiang — the fragrance that comes in the night, from which we have derived our product name. The plant is native in Guangdong province and neighbouring areas. It is the province where the Phoenix region situates.
It has taken us some work to get to Lion Head Peak ( see below for more about the origin ) to acquire this best quality representation of the variety. Please enjoy.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
The full body and fine taste of Imperial Golden Tip is possible only because of the foundation of a fine tippy tea, a masterfully and patiently executed post-fermentation processing and a specialistic approach in maturing. A great value for the level of taste it delivers. An optimal choice for the health benefits of pu’er tea.
Net weight: 100 g (3.5 oz) in Kraft Alu Pack
As a person continues to discover tea, sometimes finding one with subtle and yet complex fineness seems a lot more exciting than one with strong impressions. That is how we feel when we got hold of this. The locals aptly name it “Cao-lan” (Cymbidium goeringii), the rare orchid which ancient Chinese literati had revered for millenniums for its understated beauty and fragrance*. The long, sweet yet subtle taste and aftertaste of this tea echos the sentiments for the civilized persistence for humanity virtues of the classic eras. If you enjoy our Eight Immortals, Orchid Literati will take you to another level.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
The tougher terroir of the Himalayas usually gives a more rugged characteristic to the yield. Yet the ingenious farmer of Tea Hong's Moon Drop Himalayas has employed the creamy Jinxuan ( 金萱 ) cultivar from Taiwan and the umami Yabukita ( やぶきた ) from Japan to produce this tea. Their softer nature most definitely tones down the harsher growing environment to give this tea an extraordinarily round body, accompanied with a sweetness and bouquet that one can hardly find in any other South Asian productions. An extra step of rolling is added to the end of the white tea withering process to develop more depth in the taste profile. This is indeed an unusual gem of white tea. However, maintaining the East Asian tea plants in the Himalayas is not an easy job and getting a good yield from them is even more demanding. We have been following this tea for almost a decade before deciding to carry it. A fine batch as this one on offer is rare.
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
Cutting away from the main trail towards the more visited Zhongxin Yin and Lizai Ping, hidden away behind a spur, there is this tiny secluded enclave in Wudong by the name of Danhu. As the mecca of Fenghuang Dancong, where the oldest form of oolong is the de facto tea to produce, Wudong is one of the major mounts of the Phoenix Mountains. Outside of the 7 major villages listed administratively, there are actually many other small areas where a few or even a couple of households make up a small tea haven of their own. Shaded on the north of the dark rock mountain, it is cool here even at 4 pm on a summer day. The tea forests here are mostly bushes 2 to 3 meters tall. Occasional 3 to 5 meter ones, each occupying a circular clearing around them, growing gloriously with their wide-spread crowns. Tiny patches of vegetables grown here and there under tea trees. The few families here have been tea farmers since their grandfathers remembered. As to when the old bush for our Song Cultivar have been here, no one can really tell.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
What they say about our shop
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Tell people what you think of Tea Hong
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[contact-form-7 id=”12892″ title=”Your review of our shop”]
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.
Hong Yu Deep White, deep oxidation Taiwan white tea
Glad you like the tea. Indeed a quick wash can already render a pleasant feeling. However, as responded previously to your other comments, a longer steep does render a more complete profile of a tea and will bring a wider horizon to the appreciation and enjoyment of it, and the world of tea at large. Do let us know how you do in your journey in this direction.
Yixing Factory One: Duan-ni with Applique
It is the first time I buy teapot at Tea Hong, and I feel so good.
The duan-ni Duo Qiu teapot is very nice. Moreover I also get a good Meizhan Classic 2015 tea-pack sample and a lovely letter from Tea Hong.
The only thing that trouble me is that Tea Hong do not ship directly to Vietnam, so I really do not know how can I buy more good tea and teapot in future.
With Best Regards,
Tu Pham
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.
Eight Immortals Wudong, Phoenix dancong oolong
My friend recommend this tea to me and I really thank him. The tea gives me the impression as if eight immortals are gathered around a place and enjoying their lives
Hong Yu Deep White, deep oxidation Taiwan white tea
A lovely, complex, and vibrant white tea, with so many layers of flavor and well-defined nuances that it’s really difficult to describe. You have to try this tea in order to understand what it tastes like.
It’s sweet, smooth, and herbaceous, with malty undertones and minty overtones. It’s silky as it glides across the palate, and brings a cooling sensation that is unique. Within a matter of a couple seconds, that deceptively smooth soup explodes into a flavor bomb that lasts for several minutes on the palate and creates a very deep and rich aftertaste.
This tea is also remarkably flexible, and responds well to a variety of different brewing techniques. I’ve brewed it up gong-fu style, Western-style, and I’ve even used other methods that some purists would say are blasphemous – but the real beauty of this tea is in its ability to return some of the most delicious cups of tea you’ll ever have regardless of how you brew it up.
A must-try if you’re looking for a complex and sophisticated experience in the category of white tea.
Danhu Old Bush Song Cultivar, Phoenix dancong oolong
This is a very fantastic tea. I usually like the more fruity Dan Congs, such as the Eight Immortals Wudong or the Huangzhi Xiang Classic and have tried some more fruity Song Zhong from other sellers. But this tea, even though it doesn’t have the strong fruitiness that I usually enjoy so much, still makes me appreciate this tea even more for its very pleasant taste which I would probably describe as vanilla pinewood with a very pleasant sweetness. This tea has a very long and pleasant aftertaste and during the session the whole room fills with the unique smell of this tea.
But I think what makes this tea so unique for me is that its taste has a certain calm wisdom to it. Drinking this tea almost feels like a form of mediation that directs my thoughts inwards and makes me think about the things in life that truly matter. I don’t think any other tea I’ve drunk so far has so much wisdom in its taste. This works very well with the calming body sensation that this tea brings during the session. It is a gem in my tea collection that really has the perfect balance.
I prefer to brew it using 3g in a 100ml clay pot at 95°C, increasing the temperature to 99°C for the later infusions to get more out of the leaves.
Random top customer-rated products
White Peony Classic Long, traditional white tea
Tea, White teas, Minnan/ Mindong, Fujian, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Neutral-Cool EnergyZhenghe Mudan Wang
While White Peony from Fuding tastes more floral, that from the other earliest region, Zhenghe, tastes longer and deeper. The more tedious curing process is marked by the darker colors on the leaves. While many prize Silver Needle Supreme for its delicate taste and furry appearance, a superb traditional white tea as White Peony Classic Long delivers a more impressive taste experience. That may explain why this Mudan Wang, aka King of White Peony, is considered the best and most classical representation from the origin, and a favourite by many tea connoisseurs. As most aficionados prefer it, we have always matured this tea adequately before releasing it in the shop. The current stock is a single batch first flush ( i.e. pre-Qing-ming ) harvest from 2019.Shiguping Wulong, rare Phoenix oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Fuller Bodies, Lighter Aromas, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaRare Indigenous Cultivar:
To us, offering the extremely rare Shiguping Wulong is not a challenge enough. We think we should give you the best of its kind. Trekking further deep into the mountain above the elusive main village of Shiguping, we found the patch of land which the locals called Liao-xi-ya, where it all began. The tea is softer, yet fuller and even more complex than that in the main village. The very original Shiguping Wulong*, as highly acclaimed by the man who devoted all of his life in advocating oolongs of Phoenix, the 74 years-old tea specialist Huang Bozi.Oriental Beauty, deep oxidation Taiwan oolong
Fuller Bodies, Lighter Aromas, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Taiwan, TeaDongfang Meiren
To experience why this unique Taiwan white tip oolong was nicknamed Oriental Beauty by Queen Elizabeth II, you have to taste the real thing. It is perhaps the most demanding tea to process well. Harvested only once a year in summer and after the young leaves are bitten by a kind of tiny leafhopper, genuine Dongfang Meiren can attain its special taste profile only after following the oolong processing routine modified especially for this tea. Tea Hong’s Phong-hong tè — the original name of Oriental Beauty — is a prime selection from the origin in Hsinchu, Taiwan. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster’s Box: Nine Oolong Samplers.Bamboo Leaf, traditional green tea
Cool Energy, Fuller Bodies, Green teas, Lighter Aromas, Tea, ZhejiangZhuye Qingding — a rare shoot leaf green tea
Some people like their green tea soft and sweet, others may prefer a good umami. Yet this leaf shoot tea is neither. Its brisk, lively full body is accentuated with a refreshing aroma and a distinct note of bitterness. After Longjing, of all the other green teas from the Zhejiang region, my personal strongest preference goes to this traditional green tea form of Bamboo Leaf produced in Kaihua. To me it is an alternative to a shot of single malt in the evening, or an afternoon kick of espresso. Maybe more pleasant and invigorating. This style form is produced in a few other tea regions in China. The taste profile does vary from region to region, and even from farm to farm, tea master to tea master. In Emei Shan in Szechuan, the traditional form style name, Zhu Ye Qing, which transliterates as Bamboo Leaf Green, is registered as a brand name by a powerful local tea company. Other farmers and tea companies who have been producing in this same style form are then required by law to sell their products in different names. One of them is Mingshan Shihua. Tea Hong's Bamboo Leaf is a rare quality representing not only the broader taste profile of this style form, but also the intriguing intricacy that gives true quality tea its elevating magic.Big White, Phoenix dancong oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaFenghuang Da Baiye:
Produced using a Phoenix native cultivar Da Baiye ( i.e. Big White Leaf ), and has certain taste similarity as the rarer Song Cultivar Huangzhi Xiang, this tea is popular amongst traders for use as a substitute for the pricier label. Tea Hong’s top quality selection, Big White is certainly a good demonstration of how this tea can fool the lesser experienced connoisseurs. That said, however, the trained tongue can certainly tell it is a fine tea on its own for the uniqueness in its floral aroma, silky texture and soft, smooth body.Rural Life Gaiwan
Gaiwans, Stoneware, Tea AccessoriesCeladon overglaze stoneware
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. This "Rural Life" gaiwan is one of two hand scripted smaller size selections we have picked from Dehua. The first four lines from a Tang Dynasty poem "Rural Life" are handwritten on the perimeter of the gaiwan. The style of this calligraphic script is Cao Shu, a cursive script. Some call it running script. It seems that the brush was indeed running when the characters were being brushed on the ceramic biscuit. 茶碗上以草書體寫唐代賈島的一首詩，「郊居即事」的開頭四句：住此園林久，其如未是家。葉書傳野意，檐溜煮胡茶。
Aura of the Night, bouquet Phoenix oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaYelai Xiang Dancong
The complex, yet bright and lively floral aroma of this tea is associated with a native flower, yelai xiang, aka Chinese violet. It is a vine yielding light yellow small flowers that are especially fragrant at night, hence the name, yelai xiang — the fragrance that comes in the night, from which we have derived our product name. The plant is native in Guangdong province and neighbouring areas. It is the province where the Phoenix region situates. It has taken us some work to get to Lion Head Peak ( see below for more about the origin ) to acquire this best quality representation of the variety. Please enjoy.Imperial Golden Tip 2013, Pu’er shu cha
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Pu'er teas, Tea, YunnanMenghai Fine Leaf Classic Pu’er:
The full body and fine taste of Imperial Golden Tip is possible only because of the foundation of a fine tippy tea, a masterfully and patiently executed post-fermentation processing and a specialistic approach in maturing. A great value for the level of taste it delivers. An optimal choice for the health benefits of pu’er tea.Orchid Literati, Phoenix dancong oolong
Cool Energy, Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, TeaCaolan Dancong — Duck Poo Tea
As a person continues to discover tea, sometimes finding one with subtle and yet complex fineness seems a lot more exciting than one with strong impressions. That is how we feel when we got hold of this. The locals aptly name it “Cao-lan” (Cymbidium goeringii), the rare orchid which ancient Chinese literati had revered for millenniums for its understated beauty and fragrance*. The long, sweet yet subtle taste and aftertaste of this tea echos the sentiments for the civilized persistence for humanity virtues of the classic eras. If you enjoy our Eight Immortals, Orchid Literati will take you to another level.Moon Drops Himalayas, deep oxidation Nepali white tea
Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Nepal, the Himalayas, Neutral-Cool Energy, Organic teas, Tea, White teasWhen a Taiwanese marries a Japanese in Nepal
The tougher terroir of the Himalayas usually gives a more rugged characteristic to the yield. Yet the ingenious farmer of Tea Hong's Moon Drop Himalayas has employed the creamy Jinxuan ( 金萱 ) cultivar from Taiwan and the umami Yabukita ( やぶきた ) from Japan to produce this tea. Their softer nature most definitely tones down the harsher growing environment to give this tea an extraordinarily round body, accompanied with a sweetness and bouquet that one can hardly find in any other South Asian productions. An extra step of rolling is added to the end of the white tea withering process to develop more depth in the taste profile. This is indeed an unusual gem of white tea. However, maintaining the East Asian tea plants in the Himalayas is not an easy job and getting a good yield from them is even more demanding. We have been following this tea for almost a decade before deciding to carry it. A fine batch as this one on offer is rare.Danhu Old Bush Song Cultivar, Phoenix dancong oolong
Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, TeaA very special Huangzhi Xiang
Cutting away from the main trail towards the more visited Zhongxin Yin and Lizai Ping, hidden away behind a spur, there is this tiny secluded enclave in Wudong by the name of Danhu. As the mecca of Fenghuang Dancong, where the oldest form of oolong is the de facto tea to produce, Wudong is one of the major mounts of the Phoenix Mountains. Outside of the 7 major villages listed administratively, there are actually many other small areas where a few or even a couple of households make up a small tea haven of their own. Shaded on the north of the dark rock mountain, it is cool here even at 4 pm on a summer day. The tea forests here are mostly bushes 2 to 3 meters tall. Occasional 3 to 5 meter ones, each occupying a circular clearing around them, growing gloriously with their wide-spread crowns. Tiny patches of vegetables grown here and there under tea trees. The few families here have been tea farmers since their grandfathers remembered. As to when the old bush for our Song Cultivar have been here, no one can really tell.Celeste Green Chahai
Chahai, Tea Accessories, White porcelainA classical shape chahai that goes well with an 160ml teapot. Or choose it to pair with the Celeste Green Gaiwan.