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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Thuha Pham
Convenient way of bringing the tea dream to Canada An amazing teashop! The reason I'm skeptical of online tea shops is because of quality and you cannot taste the teas beforehand. But I have gained a unique trust with the vendor, and figured what lines are more suitable for me. Might I recommend the Phoenix line and puer line. The price beats all and the shipping and customer service is exceptional. I cannot wait for more high quality gems this year from teahong. The only thing is how they sell out to fast, and minor bugs for the site bit nevertheless phenomenal for online quality. *Side note: I haven't learned from a tea master as great as Leo before, his knowledge is amazing and his insight about the market is outstanding. May I commend him on his work as I know this is a smaller part of his latter career. I have learned things that no amount of my shenzhen tea friends could've taught me. Thank you teahong for making my tea collection larger with some fine selections, you've brought a convenient way of bringing the tea dream to Canada. So much easier than carrying kilos all the way from China by hand as I do now. 🙂
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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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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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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.
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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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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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.
Black Leaf Special, Phoenix dancong oolong
This is very good Da Wu Ye, with a complex mouthfeel and great evolution of flavors across the full session. Whether you brew this up gongfu or Western-style, you can expect a delicious experience all-around.
I was a bit surprised by this one because of how much it changes over the course of a focused gongfu session. To me, Tea Hong’s Black Leaf Special opens up with some sweet florals and juicy fruity notes, somewhere in the realm of apple blossoms and caramelized peaches or sun-dried figs dusted with cacao powder. Within a couple of steeps, these notes melt away and reveal a body that consists of honey-soaked malt and fresh-pressed apple juice.
Towards the end of the session, the apple juice flavor becomes significantly thicker, and the malty texture picks up some rye-like notes which carries with it a kind of spice that is reminiscent of cloves or cinnamon.
The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth, and although the flavor profile seems a bit thin in comparison, that’s okay because the texture is fantastic and the aftertaste lingers on the palate for a long time. It’s subtle-yet-overt at the same time. Really beautiful dynamic and a great balancing act between flavors and sensations.
Although this one is easy to brew up and easy to enjoy, you should still take your time with it because this is a very good representation of the Da Wu Ye cultivar, one that can show you the full spectrum of flavors possible to achieve when high-quality material meets high-quality processing techniques.
I particularly enjoy brewing this one up Western-style, with a leaf to water ratio of 1g to 100mL – a long steep, with hot water, and using a vessel with excellent heat retention, really opens up the depth of flavors that Black Leaf Special has to offer and affords a kind of creaminess that becomes more apparent. Although this creaminess is felt in a gong-fu session, it’s thinner and more spread out across each steeping, whereas when done Western-style, it concentrates in the soup and makes for a beautiful and easy-going experience.
That really is a refreshing way of comparing the two tea, and come to think of it, quite accurate!
Tea Hong
Luan Guapian Supreme, traditional green tea
Beautiful tea
I don’t have a lot of experience with different kinds of tea, but this one is so different that I want to write about it here. It has a fullest, roundest body and silkiest texture I have ever experienced with tea. I have not expected tea to be like that before and I totally love it!
Jean V. Young
Shenshan Laoshu 2012, matured Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Yummy. This is good sheng at a great price. I enjoy the complex evolution of flavors and the way it captures the essence of what makes Lincang such a famous region. It opens up with some powerful, cooling notes of menthol & camphor, with plenty of fresh-cut tobacco and earthy nuances peeking through, in every layer.
The huigan builds slowly and lasts forever. It really comes out in the second half of the session. Along the way, I get delicious notes of rum-soaked raisins, steamed sticky rice, and lotus leaves. Eventually; and especially in the final steep, the rum-soaked raisins gradually pivot into something more reminiscent of whisky-glazed apricots and apples caramelized in maple syrup.
This maple syrup-like sweetness really clings to the throat, and I enjoy how smooth it is and how long that sweetness lasts for. Towards the end of the session, the earthy notes of fresh-cut tobacco transform into something more reminiscent of tropical hardwood, but the flavor profile maintains an earthy quality all the way through. There’s very little smokiness overall.
The finish is exceptionally bright, clean, and crisp, with well-defined textures and sensations, from the strength of the mouthfeel to the sensation in the throat, and the long-lasting cooling sensation that seems to exude from between the teeth and the gums.
Definitely worth picking up a cake of this if you’re looking for a good sheng that hits the spot but doesn’t break the bank.
NN
Alishan Guanyin, deep baked Taiwan oolong
Ask Yourself
When seeking evenness of mind and a better disposition, ask yourself which tea might help you face the day with strength and calm. No tea may be more suited to the task than Alishan Guanyin.
Nine grams of this beaded beauty produce a liquor the color of an orange-amber sunrise. The vessel lid offers the smell of warm vanilla and a refined perfume of iris, oak moss and cedar wood – a scent worthy of dabbing onto the skin.
This tea whispers balance; its gentle steam patiently waiting to be inhaled. Ask, and Alishan will deliver perfectly even doses of quiet insight to both nostrils. A fresh morning breeze wafts over with subtle, smoldering hints of a distant bonfire.
Next is a fleeting mouthful of sweet summer peaches dissolving into a slightly smoky, spicy-clean aftertaste balanced on the tip of the tongue, mid-palate and throat.
Notice the transformation of the tiny, toasty tadpoles as they make a magical metamorphosis in your mug. They swell into wild, squiggly creatures of dark slate green. Balance gives way to spontaneity as these friendly, appealing leaf-beings inspire your free spirit. If you don’t believe me, ask them yourself.
For those more demanding connoisseurs who want to enjoy the beautiful and unique appearance of Taiping Houkui, this supreme traditional quality delivers the most enjoyable taste profile of this variety. Produced from a unique cultivar — Shidaye, Houkui is a green tea many times the size of any other. It is also different in taste. Much lighter in astringency and not bitter at all, yet substantially velvety in tactility, when infused properly. Tea Hong's Taiping Houkui Traditional is masterfully hand processed from only the best first flush in the origin and optimally baked to manifest the tea's complex lightness and floral characters using a wood-charcoal made by the tea master himself. «Read more»
Net weight: 50 g (1.8 oz) in wide Kraft-alu pack
In subtropical Taiwan, the intense humidity that creates the misty atmosphere of Alishan — the tallest mountain in the island nation — dissipates partially when the chill of late Autumn sets in. In October, the sky stays clearer for longer. Little leaves that spout during this time have amply stored up for the few drier months ahead. These are great conditions for oolong harvest and processing.
Presenting Cold Dew1 Alishan, masterfully rebaked from the premium Autumn harvest of Chin-shin tea trees. Oolongs made from this quintessential Taiwan wulong cultivar have a few times more teaghrelin2 than any others3, though we hope you buy it more for the great taste of this archetypical Taiwan premium oolong.
Net weight: 70 g (2.5 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow
At 1800 m elevation, the temperature difference between day and night can easily be over 15°C even on a hot summer day. That is deep in the mountains in He Song of the Bada region in Xishuangbanna. Leaves grow much slower here, accumulated in them a little bit more plant protein, and the rich minerals from the pristine mountain soils. We pick whole sun-withered leaves from these native tea trees to process and mature into our premium grade shu cha pu’er. Presenting Bada, possibly the richest, deepest, and yet roundest post-fermented tea there is.
Net weight: 120 g (4.2 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
There are harvests from less than famous areas that can be taste worthy. That is why each producer has their own products carrying more generic names as “Deep Mountain Old Trees”, and sell them at much lower price than those with names from more sought after mountains. Some are better value than others. To me, I think this Shenshan Laoshu from Huimin Tea Factory is worth at least three times its ticket value for a body and aroma worthy of a place in the famous mountain rank. It is actually one the best generic name discus we have ever tasted, regardless of the price. One reason they can do that is their collection points spreading deep in Lincang, an area famous for its many famous tea mountains.
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:
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
What they say about our shop
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Tell people what you think of Tea Hong
Or you can post it directly here
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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.
Black Leaf Special, Phoenix dancong oolong
This is very good Da Wu Ye, with a complex mouthfeel and great evolution of flavors across the full session. Whether you brew this up gongfu or Western-style, you can expect a delicious experience all-around.
I was a bit surprised by this one because of how much it changes over the course of a focused gongfu session. To me, Tea Hong’s Black Leaf Special opens up with some sweet florals and juicy fruity notes, somewhere in the realm of apple blossoms and caramelized peaches or sun-dried figs dusted with cacao powder. Within a couple of steeps, these notes melt away and reveal a body that consists of honey-soaked malt and fresh-pressed apple juice.
Towards the end of the session, the apple juice flavor becomes significantly thicker, and the malty texture picks up some rye-like notes which carries with it a kind of spice that is reminiscent of cloves or cinnamon.
The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth, and although the flavor profile seems a bit thin in comparison, that’s okay because the texture is fantastic and the aftertaste lingers on the palate for a long time. It’s subtle-yet-overt at the same time. Really beautiful dynamic and a great balancing act between flavors and sensations.
Although this one is easy to brew up and easy to enjoy, you should still take your time with it because this is a very good representation of the Da Wu Ye cultivar, one that can show you the full spectrum of flavors possible to achieve when high-quality material meets high-quality processing techniques.
I particularly enjoy brewing this one up Western-style, with a leaf to water ratio of 1g to 100mL – a long steep, with hot water, and using a vessel with excellent heat retention, really opens up the depth of flavors that Black Leaf Special has to offer and affords a kind of creaminess that becomes more apparent. Although this creaminess is felt in a gong-fu session, it’s thinner and more spread out across each steeping, whereas when done Western-style, it concentrates in the soup and makes for a beautiful and easy-going experience.
Sacred Lily, Wuyi yancha oolong
果然別有洞天
對新品種從來沒信心，但這寶號一直未有令我失望過，所以看見是 tea master’s choice 便也試試。果然所言非虛，茶味別有洞天。好！
Shèmen Dancong Double Baked, Phoenix dancong oolong
That really is a refreshing way of comparing the two tea, and come to think of it, quite accurate!
Luan Guapian Supreme, traditional green tea
Beautiful tea
I don’t have a lot of experience with different kinds of tea, but this one is so different that I want to write about it here. It has a fullest, roundest body and silkiest texture I have ever experienced with tea. I have not expected tea to be like that before and I totally love it!
Shenshan Laoshu 2012, matured Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Yummy. This is good sheng at a great price. I enjoy the complex evolution of flavors and the way it captures the essence of what makes Lincang such a famous region. It opens up with some powerful, cooling notes of menthol & camphor, with plenty of fresh-cut tobacco and earthy nuances peeking through, in every layer.
The huigan builds slowly and lasts forever. It really comes out in the second half of the session. Along the way, I get delicious notes of rum-soaked raisins, steamed sticky rice, and lotus leaves. Eventually; and especially in the final steep, the rum-soaked raisins gradually pivot into something more reminiscent of whisky-glazed apricots and apples caramelized in maple syrup.
This maple syrup-like sweetness really clings to the throat, and I enjoy how smooth it is and how long that sweetness lasts for. Towards the end of the session, the earthy notes of fresh-cut tobacco transform into something more reminiscent of tropical hardwood, but the flavor profile maintains an earthy quality all the way through. There’s very little smokiness overall.
The finish is exceptionally bright, clean, and crisp, with well-defined textures and sensations, from the strength of the mouthfeel to the sensation in the throat, and the long-lasting cooling sensation that seems to exude from between the teeth and the gums.
Definitely worth picking up a cake of this if you’re looking for a good sheng that hits the spot but doesn’t break the bank.
Alishan Guanyin, deep baked Taiwan oolong
Ask Yourself
When seeking evenness of mind and a better disposition, ask yourself which tea might help you face the day with strength and calm. No tea may be more suited to the task than Alishan Guanyin.
Nine grams of this beaded beauty produce a liquor the color of an orange-amber sunrise. The vessel lid offers the smell of warm vanilla and a refined perfume of iris, oak moss and cedar wood – a scent worthy of dabbing onto the skin.
This tea whispers balance; its gentle steam patiently waiting to be inhaled. Ask, and Alishan will deliver perfectly even doses of quiet insight to both nostrils. A fresh morning breeze wafts over with subtle, smoldering hints of a distant bonfire.
Next is a fleeting mouthful of sweet summer peaches dissolving into a slightly smoky, spicy-clean aftertaste balanced on the tip of the tongue, mid-palate and throat.
Notice the transformation of the tiny, toasty tadpoles as they make a magical metamorphosis in your mug. They swell into wild, squiggly creatures of dark slate green. Balance gives way to spontaneity as these friendly, appealing leaf-beings inspire your free spirit. If you don’t believe me, ask them yourself.
Random top customer-rated products
Taiping Houkui Traditional, green tea of shidaye cultivar
Cold Energy, Green teas, Huangshan & Anhui, Lighter Aromas, TeaSmall batch charcoal baked
For those more demanding connoisseurs who want to enjoy the beautiful and unique appearance of Taiping Houkui, this supreme traditional quality delivers the most enjoyable taste profile of this variety. Produced from a unique cultivar — Shidaye, Houkui is a green tea many times the size of any other. It is also different in taste. Much lighter in astringency and not bitter at all, yet substantially velvety in tactility, when infused properly. Tea Hong's Taiping Houkui Traditional is masterfully hand processed from only the best first flush in the origin and optimally baked to manifest the tea's complex lightness and floral characters using a wood-charcoal made by the tea master himself. «Read more»Cold Dew Alishan, bouquet Taiwan oolong
Fuller Bodies, Lighter Aromas, Neutral-Cool Energy, Oolongs, Taiwan, TeaWinter Chin-shin Oolong
In subtropical Taiwan, the intense humidity that creates the misty atmosphere of Alishan — the tallest mountain in the island nation — dissipates partially when the chill of late Autumn sets in. In October, the sky stays clearer for longer. Little leaves that spout during this time have amply stored up for the few drier months ahead. These are great conditions for oolong harvest and processing. Presenting Cold Dew1 Alishan, masterfully rebaked from the premium Autumn harvest of Chin-shin tea trees. Oolongs made from this quintessential Taiwan wulong cultivar have a few times more teaghrelin2 than any others3, though we hope you buy it more for the great taste of this archetypical Taiwan premium oolong.Bada 2011, Pu’er shu cha
Denser Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Home, Neutral Energy, Pu'er teas, Tea, YunnanTraditional Premium Shu Cha :
At 1800 m elevation, the temperature difference between day and night can easily be over 15°C even on a hot summer day. That is deep in the mountains in He Song of the Bada region in Xishuangbanna. Leaves grow much slower here, accumulated in them a little bit more plant protein, and the rich minerals from the pristine mountain soils. We pick whole sun-withered leaves from these native tea trees to process and mature into our premium grade shu cha pu’er. Presenting Bada, possibly the richest, deepest, and yet roundest post-fermented tea there is.Shenshan Laoshu 2012, matured Pu’er shengcha cha bing
Compressed tea, Fuller Bodies, Neutral-Cool Energy, Pu'er teas, Stronger Tastes, Tea, YunnanDeep Mountain Old Trees
There are harvests from less than famous areas that can be taste worthy. That is why each producer has their own products carrying more generic names as “Deep Mountain Old Trees”, and sell them at much lower price than those with names from more sought after mountains. Some are better value than others. To me, I think this Shenshan Laoshu from Huimin Tea Factory is worth at least three times its ticket value for a body and aroma worthy of a place in the famous mountain rank. It is actually one the best generic name discus we have ever tasted, regardless of the price. One reason they can do that is their collection points spreading deep in Lincang, an area famous for its many famous tea mountains. This tea is also available in a small portion as a part of Tea Taster's Box: Shengcha Pu'er Cha Bings.Cassia Extraordinaire, Wuyi yancha oolong
Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral Energy, Oolongs, Tea, Wuyi-shanTea 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
Tea, Oolongs, Wuyi-shan, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Neutral EnergySilk 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.