What our customers say

What an amazingly beautiful and supremely delicious green tea! I follow the brewing suggestion, adding 3-4 ice cubes on the bottom of a tall clay cup and brewing the leaves up with freshly boiled water. I’ve been brewing Taiping Houkui (and a few other teas, such as a green tea made from the “Zi Juan” cultivar) this way for 6+ years with no problems, the clay does not crack, and it produces a unique flavor profile that cannot be replicated any other way.

Tea Hong’s version is exquisite – a pinch less floral than what I’m used to, but the mouthfeel is much fuller and rounder, with an apricot-like fruitiness balancing out the notes of steamed vegetables & mung beans. There are undertones of spinach & broccoli, with some volatile aromatics that are pretty earthy and deeply satisfying.

The cha qi of this tea is powerful – it’s very invigorating and direct. Maybe all of the love and hard work that goes into producing every meticulously-crafted leaf of Tea Hong’s Taiping Houkui Traditional is captured within the leaves themselves, and somehow released once again during the brew, so that the drinker may enjoy a glimpse of what it took to create this one-of-a-kind of experience.

I particularly enjoy the detailed information that is available about this tea in Leo’s blog post. It’s amazing to contemplate the level of skilled craftsmanship required to manifest this tea while sipping on it simultaneously.

Delicious and refreshing. I find this tea is all about the finish and aftertaste – it’s very complex and persistent. It lasts for a while, and continues to evolve in a way that very few other green teas do.

This particular example of Luan Guapian is notably sweeter and less bitter than other versions that you might find from different vendors. It’s textured and nuanced where others are flat, thin, and lack depth of flavor.

Initially, this tea opens up with some notes of lightly roasted sunflower seeds and steamed spinach. It’s got a thick and creamy body, reminiscent of cashew butter, and as the flavor profile evolves on the palate it becomes sweeter and develops some intricate fruity and floral notes. The mouthfeel is complex and vibrant all the way through, from the initial sip to the last remaining sensations in the aftertaste.

I also enjoy the cha qi – it’s soothing and calming in the body, but apparent and focused in the mind, which makes it a good tea to drink before meditation, both in the morning and evening.

令人上癮的茶。以為宋種已是最好，但喝過了這個以後，心裏只有它。

Multiple personalities

The characteristics of this tea appear to morph like a chameleon, and it’s impossible to say which version is more enjoyable. Each infusion of Raw Reserve produced a different experience in color and taste. Using a zisha clay gaiwan, my first infusion unveiled espresso-dark liquor with the taste of unsweetened cocoa and salty mineral hints. The second infusion gave me midnight purple with a velvety texture, hints of bittersweet sassafras, and a lively tinkling on the tongue. The third produced a ruby-tart, deep cranberry concoction with a slightly sweet finish. While each infusion transformed into something different, the tea never weakened. I’m certain there are more surprises left in this shengcha pu’er, but I’d better put a lid on it and take a break before I get too tea-drunk.

Fenghuang Rou Gui is an exceptionally rare cultivar, and makes for a very intriguing experience for the seasoned dancong aficionado who has been around the block with many of the usual Shui Xian hybrids.

This dancong is incredibly creamy and smooth, with a velvety texture and an oily viscosity to it that quickly spreads throughout the mouth and coats the entire throat as I continue to work the magical soup down into my belly.

The evolution of flavors and textures is stellar; across the full session, there is much to appreciate in every sip, and as I continue to work my way through the tea, it’s hard to miss the “wow” factor that these leaves bring. This is seriously impressive.

The initial sensations remind me of freshly churned butter and heavy cream infused with a touch of sweet cinnamon; it’s soft and round with no discernible edges to it, and has a warming spicy quality. The mouthfeel is doughy and chewy, like freshly baked scones or shortbread.

As the silky-smooth buttery notes melt away on the palate, they reveal a gorgeous bouquet of florals which remind me of white magnolia and lilies – but not just the blossoms, I’m talking about the stalks and stems too. This is a very three-dimensional experience, with great depth and nuance in every aspect of the flavor profile.

The milky, flowery notes get stronger even half-way through the session, and are joined by a powerful and characteristic dancong minerality which adds a lot of texture to the mouthfeel. It isn’t aggressive, but adds a touch of sharpness that gently cuts through the smooth, buttery-like qualities initially perceived on the palate, leaving behind what is undoubtedly a vibrant and earthy note of ginseng with slightly tart undertones which remind me of hibiscus flowers and cherries.

Towards the end of my session, those fruity undertones start to rise to the surface of the flavor profile, carrying with them a distinct fruity sweetness that is seamlessly integrated with notes of ginseng root soaked in cinnamon oil.

My favorite part about this tea is just how complex the mouthfeel is, and how much it changes over the course of a good, focused session. If you are a fan of the Jiang Mu cultivar, you don’t want to miss this one, it will certainly elevate your appreciation and understanding of Fenghuang dancong.

Restocking

Hello Zachno (and other customers who have been waiting for restocking of this gaiwan),

We feel sorry that this product is sold out so much quicker than we expected. We have already asked the manufacturer to produce this again, sooner than already scheduled, but since our order is relatively small, we have to be waiting in line. The fact that it is now Chinese New Year long holiday in Mainland China is delaying it for another two weeks. Please bear with us for the time being. Please do consider our other great quality and great value choices.

Please do register for email alert if you want to be notified as soon as the stock is available.