$ 19.00
This is the sister tea to the Tamaryokucha, grown in Ureshino. Both these teas are shade grown and harvested in the spring, when the leaves are still young and approximately 1/2"-3.4" long. The difference lies in the processing. While the Tamaryokucha is steamed, typical of Japanese senchas, the Kamairicha is pan-fired in a large wok, similar to certain Chinese teas. This method was adopted from mainland China in an area just north of Nagasaki, which is known for it's melting pot of international cultures.
The result of processing this robust Japanese tea with traditional Chinese methods is a completely unique experience. The aroma is both sweet and vegetal with notes of hazelnut and soft to. The mouthfeel is smooth and full-bodied has just enough viscosity to linger long past the tea is gone. Steeping to a soft yellow-green, the soup is both bright and grounding. The vegetal depth and umami characteristics balance perfectly with the warming toasty notes the pan-firing imparts.
This tea is made by a third generation tea producer and only a limited quantity is available this year.
Harvest: Spring 2022
Origin: Ureshino, Japan
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This interesting tea is grown in Hunan and processed in a similar way as sheng puerh. The leaves are plucked in the spring, withered, fired, and rolled. But what sets this tea apart is the roughly 2 months of repetitive low-heat smoking that the leaves undergo afterwards. The result is a bright, energizing tea with a tannic overtone, contrasting with the earthen wood smoke that is most prominent in the first few steeps.
Plucked in 2016, the leaves have aged beautifully in bamboo baskets which have allowed the flavors to interact seamlessly. This tea has a cult following in the shop!
$ 9.00
Plucked from the southernmost tea garden in Yunnan, just above the Vietnam border, this tea has a unique personality. It is harvested a few days before the Lunar New Year, towards the end of winter. The leaves have been dormant all winter long, soaking up nutrients in the soil as they rest. The air is dry and cold this time of year and the leaves pick up a notes of smoke in the air and a dewy sweetness.
When picked, the leaves exude flavors and aromas that range from savory charcoal-smoked veggies to sweet red bean paste. The long winter hibernation has harbored a stamina that will allow this tea to be steeped at least 10 times, each yielding vibrant new notes. The first few steeps offer warm hints of smoke and charcoal, and as each steep reaches deeper within the leaf, it accesses reserves of nectar. Each cup has a healthy amount of body and brings to mind steamed artichoke hearts and summer squash.
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Yunnan, China
$ 20.00
These young buds are perfectly plucked and rolled. Each curled pearl is comprised of one tip with one bud and two young leaves. Made in the same style as our Golden Bud Biluochun, this year's tea is made of smaller leaves and has a decidedly juicier flavor. The aroma makes your mouth water with rich with dark chocolate and sweet grapes. Each steep brings our new flavors ranging from cocoa and cured tobacco to malt and tart cherries.
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Fengqing, Yunnan
$ 14.00
Gorgeous, long single buds plucked from high up in the Ai Lao Mountains. These tea tips are harvested in the spring and stored until the jasmine blooms in the summer. They then go through repetitive overnight layering with fresh blossoms until they have successfully absorbed the succulent floral aroma. This tea is decadent, with lush floral notes accenting the fresh, slightly sweet needle-like leaves. Each sip coats your mouth and glides down your throat like silk, leaving a refreshing aftertaste in its wake
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 20.00
This spring 2020 shou cha fits perfectly into our Puerh collection. Plucked from 200-400 year old trees, its perfectly balanced flavors of slightly dry raw cacao, damp bark and light minerality sit deep in the throat and belly. It has the ability to steep rich and deep while still maintaining a clear liquor. The small leaf grade is accented with bright red young leaves and is pressed into 100 gram cakes that are able to be broken up without the need for a pick. This tea creates a warmth and calmness that makes it idea in the evening or any time you need to get grounded. We recommend this tea for everyone from Puerh novices looking for an smooth cup, to aficionados needing something flavorful but calming.
We also offer this tea in 7g Baby Cakes!
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Yunnan, China
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We are honored to offer you this tea. These 200g cakes are a community effort to interlace feral and old growth tea from around the village and mountains of Mangjing. The leaves were plucked and fermented in 2015 and have since developed into an incredible tea which we had pressed in 2019. The aroma is thick and earthen, yielding to a deep chocolate liquor with an incredible velvety mouthfeel. Each sip leaves traces of cacao, berries and peat all the way down to your stomach, where it fosters an internal warmth and grounding energy.
The village of Mangjing is situated in the ancient tea-producing Jingmai Mountain range and is home to the Bee Immortal Tree, central to the village's agricultural calendar. The immense banyan tree is draped in dozens of beehives, which are closely watched throughout the year. When the majority of bees return in the spring, it is the signal to begin plucking the tea trees.
This tea is a decadent shou cha that can be steeped all day long and still present new flavors. The roots of these trees tap into so many layers of minerals in the rich soil, that each steep unveils new depth and complexities.
$ 28.00
Forget that Lapsang you had at the coffee shop years ago, the one that assaulted your senses with smoke and clung to your mouth for hours after. This is not that tea. Grown in the Wuyi mountains, this Bohea cultivar is expertly crafted. The dry twisted leaves present an alluring aroma of pine smoke without taking over. Steeped, the leaves exude a gorgeous amber liquor and offer aromatic hints of toffee and tobacco. The soft veil of smoke clears with each steep, yielding to deeper notes of sherry and raw cacao within the leaves. Juicy and robust while sipping, the tea finishes slightly dry with just a hint of embers remaining.
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 18.00
The wait is over! We are so excited to finally have these cakes in our hands (and cups). This shou Puerh comes from the Ai Lao Mountains and is delicious by itself, but its real treat is the herbs mixed into the leaves. The leaves of Nuo Mi Xiang (Semnostachya Menglaensis) literally translate to "Sticky Rice Aroma", and for a reason: they give off an aroma uncannily similar to sticky rice. Combined with the Puerh leaves, the combination is deep but uplifting, sweet yet earthen, and steeps over and over again. The liquor is a clean deep red which will keep you going for 8+ gongfu steeps. Each cake has 100g of tea, pressed loosely enough to not require a pick to break it up.
Origin: Simao, Yunnan
Harvest: 2021
*wrapper art by Ali*
$ 40.00
For those who like to add a little green in their cooking. This is a premium food grade matcha, produced by the same folks as our ceremonial grades. It is a vibrant green with intense umami flavor and grassy notes. But it also has an astringent kick to it, which is helpful when using it to cook or bake (or even make lattes and smoothies). When combined with other ingredients, the tannins are canceled out and the flavor of the matcha isn't drowned out. If the matcha is too smooth, it will get pushed into the background with the addition of other ingredients.
Add this to cookies, smoothies, make ice cream, salad dressing, you name it. Not only will it taste great, but you'll also be getting the elevated health benefits like catechins, chlorophyll, vitamins and antioxidants. It's a win-win!
This is NOT the type of matcha you get in the bulk aisle at the grocery store. It is processed in Uji, Japan by a family that has been making matcha for over 300 years.
$ 15.00
We partnered with Ozben Felek of Felek Acupuncture, to create this herbal blend for her clinic. Cozy Belly is a gentle herbal blend that makes a wonderful beverage to sip after a large meal, or any time you need a little extra warmth. The warming and moving mixture of Organic Cinnamon, Licorice Root, Ginger and Fennel helps boost digestion and keeps everything moving along. It doubles as a nice herbal chai option as well.
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This tea is available for one month at the beginning of spring. The next harvest will be available in May, 2023.
Translating to "Spring Cloud", Harukasumi matcha is a perfect representation of spring time. Suitable for usucha (thin tea) or koicha (thick tea), this tea is smooth and clean with a creamy mouthfeel, flowery high notes and a lingering cooling note that mimics a light breeze. The intensity of the flavors can be adjusted by how much water you use, but it always yields an invigorating and refreshing cup with the perfect balance of bright overtones accenting its soothing, full bodied foundation.
Currently all of our ceremonial grade matcha offerings are produced and stone-ground by Marukyu Koyamaen, a family tea business that has been growing and producing tea in Uji for over 300 years.
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These Baby Cakes are the perfect option for tea drinkers on the go! Easy to pack and portion, and cute as heck too. Each tong is wrapped and tied in bamboo and contains seven individually wrapped 7g cakes. Great for gifting, steeping and even flipping for making important life decisions.
This spring 2020 shou cha fits perfectly into our Puerh collection. Plucked from 200-400 year old trees, its perfectly balanced flavors of slightly dry raw cacao, damp bark and light minerality sit deep in the throat and belly. It has the ability to steep rich and deep while still maintaining a clear liquor. The small leaf grade is accented with bright red young leaves and is pressed into 100 gram cakes that are able to be broken up without the need for a pick. This tea creates a warmth and calmness that makes it idea in the evening or any time you need to get grounded. We recommend this tea for everyone from Puerh novices looking for an smooth cup, to aficionados needing something flavorful but calming.
We also offer this tea in 100g cakes.
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Yunnan, China
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This is a limited time offering that is available one month of the year. We only have 40 canisters available this year!
Translating to "Out of the Pot", Tsubokiri matcha is a special form of matcha harvested in the spring and finished in the fall. Historically, the tencha leaves were stored in clay jars which allowed the flavors to soften a bit from the intensity they have in the spring. In the Autumn, they were removed and stone ground. Now, the leaves are not stored in jars, but are still allowed to breathe under refrigeration and develop a different flavor profile. When the tencha is removed and ground in October, the resulting matcha is incredibly smooth with hardly any tannic notes. The tea is smooth and creamy and has a hint of sweetness and slightly toasty aroma. Suitable for usucha (thin tea) or koicha (thick tea). Don't miss this chance to taste this tea, once it's gone, it's gone until next year.
Currently all of our ceremonial grade matcha offerings are produced and stone-ground by Marukyu Koyamaen, a family tea business that has been growing and producing tea in Uji for over 300 years.
$ 10.00
These Baby Cakes are the perfect option for tea drinkers on the go! Easy to pack and portion, and cute as heck too. Each tong is wrapped and tied in bamboo and contains seven individually wrapped 7g cakes. Great for gifting, steeping and even flipping for making important life decisions.
This raw Puerh was plucked from trees growing wild in Pu'er. The tea is refreshing and approachable, even for those who are new to Sheng Puerh or are usually turned off by it. Its aromatics exude notes if honey and magnolia blossoms and the tea steeps to a soft yellow liquor. Balanced and clean, this tea is invigorating and smooth at the same time. It is sweet and doesn't have the astringent finish often associated with Sheng Puerh. Its effect on the body is energizing and cooling, perfect as a creativity booster or to combat the heat in the summer.
Sheng Puerh does not go through the piling fermentation process that Shou Puerh goes through, so it does not have the earthy notes typically associated with Puerh.
Harvest: 2021
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
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These Baby Cakes are the perfect option for tea drinkers on the go! Easy to pack and portion, and cute as heck too. Each tong is wrapped and tied in bamboo and contains seven individually wrapped 7g cakes. Great for gifting, steeping and even flipping for making important life decisions.
Made from a blend of two Taiwanese oolong cultivars, grown in Pu-er and processed as a black tea, this tea has a growing and dedicated cult following.
The family who tends to these plants operates a small organic farm and grow mostly Taiwanese cultivars. Red Dragon comprises leaves hand plucked from Ruanzhi and Jinxuan cultivars, grown at nearly 2000 m elevation.
This tea offers up a complex cup that is both wholesome and seductive. Enticing aromas of juicy lychee and smokey cedar give way to a full-bodied cup with the perfect balance of sweet and tart plum and toasty barley.
We also offer this tea loose leaf.
Process: Organic
Harvest: 2021
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
$ 15.00
$ 16.00
Grown in Wuyishan, this iconic high mountain oolong is a perfect addition to any tea lovers collection. Yancha, or rock oolong, is unique in flavor for several reasons. The tea buses grow between tall mountainous rocks that block out most of the sunlight, causing the leaves to grow very slowly. This, in combination with the mineral rich soil allow the leaves to soak up more flavor through their roots and develop a depth in flavor that is sought after. This farmer has been crafting Wuyi Yancha for over 60 years, and his skill is easily recognizable.
Rougui translates to cassia (cinnamon), and references the intense aromas of warm wood the tea exudes. The leaves are highly oxidized and roasted, giving them a nutty and toasty aroma offset by a fruit leather sweetness. The tea picks up on different notes with each steep as the water reaches deeper into the leaves. The flavor is full and balanced with a lingering warmth that is comforting and soothing.
Harvest: Spring, 2022
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 12.00
Grown and processed at 6000' elevation in Simao, Yunnan, this tea has a depth and uniqueness that does not disappoint. This is a large leaf native Yunnan varietal that goes through a longer wither to bring out a sweeter aroma. Each tip is covered with fine, golden downy hairs. The leaf exudes aromas of candied pecan pie and burnt caramel. When steeped, the leaf loosens and reveals a hidden baby bud tucked inside. The flavor is clean and slightly smoky with notes of berries, cedar and cacao that softens to a finish that balances between wood and citrus.
Origin: Yunnan, China
Harvest: 2022
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We are so pleased to share this new tea with you. Harvested in the winter on Phoenix Mountain, this black tea is made from Mi Lan Xiang Oolong cultivars. Winter harvested teas grow slower in the limited sunlight, soaking up more minerals from the soil as they grow and often developing sweeter notes. The resulting flavor is unique and intense. The warm leaf offers notes of baked plum pie and a hint of citrus peel. Even with short steeps the tea is full bodied and has a nourishing intensity that settles deep in your throat. When allowed to steep longer, the leaves emanate distinctive chocolate flavors that wash over your senses like velvet.
Process: Organic
Harvest: Winter, 2021
Origin: Guangdong, China
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This Dan Cong oolong is a beautiful example of how complex these Phoenix Mountain teas can be. The leaves steep to a soft peachy-yellow color and give off notes that are toasty, floral and sweet with a subtle zesty note. The tea is clean and perfectly balanced between warmer, fresh baked notes, citrus blossoms and a slightly dry finish.
Dan Cong oolongs are plucked form Phoenix Mountain in Guangdong, China. The term "Dan Cong" translates to Single Bush, which historically meant that the tea was all plucked from the same tea tree. More commonly it is used to describe teas from Phoenix Mountain which have been plucked from the same cultivar and are allowed to grow into large trees. They are famous for adopting various aromas and this tea is no different.
Process: organic
Harvest: Spring, 2021
Origin: Guangdong, China
$ 20.00
This blend took a year to perfect, and we're so happy to finally offer it to you! It's like a take on other breakfast blends, but using three of our premium, top-notch teas (bonus points if you can guess the ingredients). It can be enjoyed everyday, or save it for those brunch dates. The result really is a tea that is more than the sum of its parts. The blend of the three creates an intoxicating sweet, fruity, smoky, floral aroma with a flavor that is full-bodied and complex. It is very versatile and can be steeped gongfu style in a gawian, or British style in a pot for a few minutes. Move over mimosa, there's a new drink on the brunch table!
$ 18.00
This cake is a part of our Elemental Tea Series, a four-tea set of Puerhs that is meant to examine differences in Puerhs while also connecting us to the natural world through tea.
This tea was harvested in 2016 and pressed for us in 2020. It has relaxed into its pressed state and offers a full body drinking experience. The flavor is both deep and bright, as it is warms the throat while activating the roof of your mouth with an iron-rich tingle. The flavor gets richer with each steep and lingers long after each sip. Aromas of damp bark and rising dough give way to a smooth, deeply satisfying flavor. Each sip can be felt internally as it builds warmth.
Tea plants develops flavor through their connection to the air, water and the soil. Minerals are present in every soil structure and help to nurture tea plants and humans alike. When drinking this tea, notice the increasing depth in flavor that comes with each steep. As the water reaches deeper in to the leaf it brings us closer to the heart of the tea through the veins carrying precious minerals. This tea has in innate ability to center us while nourishing us with the plentiful minerals it has absorbed.
*Wrapper art by Ali*
$ 22.00
This hearty, tippy tea was harvested before the rains to ensure a full-flavored cup. Golden Monkey gets its name from the shape of the leaves, and how they mimic monkey claws. The aroma is rich and chocolatey, and steeps to a gorgeous deep red liquor. Each sip has a progression of flavors that begin with cocoa powder, then take on notes of oak barrel aging with a light citrus finish. Compared to some of our other Chinese red teas, this one has a heavy body and I like to think of it as the main course, if Jinjunmei was dessert.
Process: organic
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Yunnan, China
$ 40.00
This small leaf shou puerh is made from a blend of ancient tree leaf material across four districts in Lincang County. Fermented in 2007 and carefully aged in Kunming ever since, this tea straddles the balance between soft and bold. The aroma has notes of earth and raw chocolate and steeps a liquor that is rich burgundy with no murkiness. The initial steep is a soft introduction to the tea, with each steep reaching deeper notes. The mouthfeel is smooth washes down your throat, leaving lingering flavors of clean earth and smooth river rocks. The age of the leaves allows the tea to be steeped upwards of 10 times before losing flavor and has an uplifting effect on the psyche.
If you remember when we had this tea years ago, you will be so happy to see it back. We were able to get in touch with contacts in Lincang who have access to the same leaves we had previously, and it has only gotten better with age.
Origin: Yunnan, China
Harvest: 2007
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This offering has been a labor of love. I have spent the last year searching for different styles of Puerh to display the variety in flavor and experience, while also helping us forge deeper connections to nature through tea. The result is the Elemental Tea Series.
I've selected two Sheng Puerhs and two Shou Puerhs and had them pressed into 100g cakes. Each one brings something special to the table and is aligned with a different natural element.
Roots is a 1995 Shou Puerh from Menghai Factory
Minerals is a 2016 Shou Puerh from Simao
Light is a spring 2020 Sheng Puerh with buds from the Ai Lao Mountains
Wind is a 2020 autumn Sheng Puerh from Mangjing Village
You can read all about this journey and learn more about things to consider while preparing these teas here.
Each set is wrapped together with information and steeping recommendations included for all the teas. The first 10 sets sold will include a tea pick. All of the artwork was illustrated by Ali in an attempt to further put her heart on the line. We hope you will enjoy this tea journey.
$ 19.00
2021 leaf plucked from 2000 meter elevation trees on Ai Lao Mountain. The leaf composition is a perfect blend of expertly plucked tips and larger leaves with very little breakage in the processing. The result is a smooth, well-rounded tea with notes of apricot, sweet hay and melon seed. These cakes can be broken up and enjoyed now, or stock op on a bamboo-wrapped tong and age it!
Plus a bonus: Our dear friend, Amber von Nagel illustrated the wrapper for us!
Harvest: 2021
Origin: Simao, China
$ 24.00
This is a new tea for us, which we are so happy to share with you. Harvested from Bitter Bamboo Mountain in Yunnan, these ancient leaves are sun-dried and pressed for Blue Willow into 100g cakes. The aroma of the warm leaf has notes of dry wood and fruit leather. The leaves steep velvety smooth and fills the whole mouth with flavors mimicking chocolate, kumquat, and cedarwood. The roughly 300-year-old trees have deep roots, channeling minerals to the tips of the leaves which linger from the roof of the mouth to deep in the throat.
These leaves are lightly rolled after withering, increasing the amount of time to oxidize, which makes the tea sweeter. The process of sun-drying instead of baking allows more enzymes to live, altering the flavor of the tea and making it ideal for aging. Over time, the enzymes will continue to create more sugars, making the tea sweeter and sweeter the longer it ages. These leaves were harvested in 2022 and are already full of flavor, so we can't wait to see how the flavors progress.
Process: organic
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Yunnan, China
*Label art hand-drawn by Ali, Boss Lady*
$ 35.00
This cake is a part of our Elemental Tea Series, a four-tea set of Puerhs that is meant to examine differences in Puerhs while also connecting us to the natural world through tea.
Much like the changing of the seasons, this tea exemplifies the autumnal change of air. Harvested in the fall in Mangjing Village, this tea is a collaboration with Theasophie. Cooler season teas grow slower in the shorter days, giving them time to absorb more nutrients from the soil. This tea offers aromatic notes of fallen leaves and burnt sugar. Steeping to a soft yellow, the flavor is robust and brings an astringency that coats the mouth with a lingering hint of dried apricot.
Sheng puerh has an invigorating and cooling effect on the body. It brings our energy into our minds, sparking creativity and energizing us. When drinking this tea, notice the sensations it leaves you with. Can you feel the coolness of your breath in your throat as you breathe? Much like a refreshing breeze, this tea offers a crisp, pleasant sensation. It draws awareness to the point where the air that moves around us becomes the air within us.
Cakes can be purchased solo, in a bamboo tong of 5, or as a set in our Elemental Tea Series. *wrapper art by Ali*
$ 58.00
**We have a very limited quantity of this tea available. Once it is gone, we won't be able to get more until next year**
Large, rolled autumn harvested leaves from Xi Lai Mountain in Taiwan. The Hao family are third generation tea farmers, caring for tea gardens around 6000' elevation. The aroma of the warm leaves is unique and visceral, soaking deep into the senses. Steeped, the leaves unfurl into large, full tips, with an almost rubber-like thickness. The flavor fills the entirety of your mouth, leaving a buttery smoothness towards the back of the throat. Notes of soft, warm bread centers lathered in butter dominate the palate, with a slight undertone of asparagus lingering at the finish. The warming sensation and flavors remain at the roof of your mouth long after each sip, inviting steep after steep. These leaves will keep steeping time after time and we have often found savory notes well into the 12th infusion. Beyond the enjoyable drinking experience, this tea has a soothing effect on both the mind and body, which can be felt long afterwards.
If you've never had GABA tea before, this is a great place to start. We've spent years searching for one that we loved and finally found it. Instead of going through the oxidation process most oolongs have, these leaves are exposed to nitrogen instead. This causes the tea to develop gamma-aminobutyric acid. These amino acids work to inhibit neurotransmissions within the primary nervous system, increasing relaxation. The after-effects are calming and long-lasting.
Harvest: Fall, 2022
Origin: Ren'ai, Taiwan
$ 65.00
We are so happy to offer this tea to you. Menghai Factory has been creating shou Puerh blends that are mimicked each year with fresh leaf. This blend, called '7572' was made in 2000, and has been wrapped in bamboo and Kunming stored. The '7572' blend is made to be approachable and smooth. It is light and has an aroma reminiscent of fresh baked biscuits. The flavor is gentle and comforting with a soft, sweet finish. The leaves are loosely pressed, making it easy to break apart by hand, and each serving will be good for 5-7 steeps. We were able to secure a small amount of this tea, and once it's gone, its gone.
Origin: Menghai, Yunnan
Harvest: 2001
$ 22.00
These Baby Cakes are the perfect option for tea drinkers on the go! Easy to pack and portion, and cute as heck too. Each tong is wrapped and tied in bamboo and contains five individually wrapped 7g cakes (I recommend breaking each cake in half for each pot). Great for gifting, steeping and even flipping for making important life decisions.
Plucked from Taiwanese Ruanzhi oolong cultivars, high-grown in the Ai Lao region of Yunnan, this spectacular tea does not disappoint. The farmer may be Chinese, but has remained true to the Taiwanese methods of crafting this unique Bai Hao tea.
The dry leaf gives off an intensely fruity aroma that steeps to a perfect medley of honey, stone fruit and lychee, all with a warm undertone of roasted wood. The leafhopper bites, extended basket withering and expert craftmanship make this a truly remarkable offering.
We also offer this tea loose leaf.
Process: Organic
Harvest: 2021
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
$ 15.00
This cake is a part of our Elemental Tea Series, a four-tea set of Puerhs that is meant to examine differences in Puerhs while also connecting us to the natural world through tea.
Plucked in spring 2020, this sheng is a combination of leaves and puerh buds. The tea is both light in flavor and in spirit. Its aroma conjures a likeness of a dewy meadow, with damp earth and fresh grass. There is a slight astringency that cools the mouth and internal systems and draws the energy up into the mind.
Plant buds hold the prospect of new growth and within them the ability to create. Energetically, sheng brings energy into the mind, sparking creativity and helping inspire ideas. Much like shining a light in a dark corner, sheng puerh can illuminate dormant ideas and help us realize aspirations. When drinking this tea, allow your mind to wander and see what new ideas start to come into focus.
Cakes can be purchased solo, in a bamboo-wrapped tong, or as a set in our Elemental Tea Series. *Wrapper art by Ali*
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We have a limited amount of these bars to share with you for Valentines Day. The Black Rose Tea has been pressed into easy-break bars and wrapped like chocolate! Large leaf, old growth leaves from Ai Lao Mountain are accented with whole wild roses to create a gorgeous and delicious tea. The resulting infusion balances hearty flavors of warm cedarwood with a floral touch and lush, malty finish. It can be prepared in a gaiwan with short, repeated steeps to bring out a progression of deepened flavors, or steeped longer for a rich, decadent cup that can stand up to the addition of milk and sugar.
Origin: Yunnan, China
Harvest: 2022
$ 48.00
We are so happy to have a small amount of this spectacular tea to share with you. Hand-crafted by Yong Hao, who has been producing award-winning tea on Chi Lai Mountain for many years. This Qing Xin cultivar is expertly roasted over charcoal and rolled several times to achieve its shape. The aroma offers notes of baked yams and burnt sugar, with essences of warm cedar. Steeped, the tea is soft but complex. The toasty notes of the firing are at the forefront and give way to a sweetly satisfying cup with honeysuckle hints. Over time, the roast flavor will settle and reveal more flavors, which we are so excited to witness. This tea is grown with organic fertilizers and tested to assure cleanliness.
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Nantou, Taiwan
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This new organic sencha is made from the Tsuyuhikari cultivar. Tsuyu translates to "dew" and Hikari translates to "light". The name is an appropriate descriptor of the tea itself. The leaves are an asamushi style (lightly steamed) so the color and intensity is smoother and less intense than other deep steamed senchas. The flavor itself is full bodied and coats your entire mouth with a creamy mouthfeel and nourishing flavors of sweet, steamed edamame and soft sea mists.
This is a great tea to bridge the gap for Japanese sencha lovers, as we await the 2022 harvests of Asatsuyu and Tamaryokucha.
Process: Organic
Harvest: Spring 2021
Origin: Kagoshima, Japan
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These are the second cakes Blue Willow commissioned. The first-flush, pre-rain tips were plucked in 2018 from strictly old growth, wild trees and have a lot going on. Best when flash steeped repeatedly, this tea is like a slow drip of energy, and really can steep all day. The aroma is fresh, bright and incredibly floral. When sipped, the tea leads with an intense burst that is at once dry and silky, leaving a cooling sensation in your throat. The flavor is verdant with notes of dried apricot, and the fresh astringency is beginning to smooth out and embrace it's earthiness in the years it's been aging.
These cakes will only get better over time and supplies are limited.
$ 17.00
Da Hong Pao is one of the better known Wuyi rock oolongs and we are so happy to have found this unique version. Large, medium oxidized leaves are perfectly roasted without losing any flavor in the process. Each steep brings more color to the leaves, revealing the darker oxidized edges and deep green centers. The aroma is toasty and fruity, like a fresh baked pie, and the flavors center around ripe fruit with warm wood and burnt sugar. Many Da Hong Paos have a deeply roasted finish, but this one is so balanced no one flavor overtakes the rest.
Harvest: Spring, 2022
Origin: Fujian, China
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This cake is a part of our Elemental Tea Series, a four-tea set of Puerhs that is meant to examine differences in Puerhs while also connecting us to the natural world through tea.
Picked and processed in the 1990s, this shou puerh was processed in Menghai and dry stored in Kunming ever since. The leaves are plucked from feral tea trees and have not been compressed. Dry storage has allowed the tea to develop its fermentation slowly, preserving much of the energetic and flavor characteristics within the tea. The aroma is earthy and warm and it steeps to an impressively smooth soup. The flavors are rich but are able to stand out without becoming muddled or dirty. Soft undertones of driftwood lay the base while a clean earthen flavor takes center stage. The tea finishes with warm hints baked clay and moss and leave behind a refreshed palate and an open airway and chest.
Tea is a product of the earth and has the innate ability to alter our physical state. Shou puerh, especially old growth and aged puerh, creates a warmth in the body, drawing our energy into our core tethering us to the ground. As you sip this tea, notice the pull towards the earth as the tea builds heat within. Taste the depth and richness of nutrients that these old roots have cultivated and absorbed into its leaves. Feel the energy that this tea exudes as it is awakened from its decades-long aging. You can almost feel it thanking you for bringing it back to life.
We are reserving the remaining cakes of this tea for the Elemental Tea Series. *wrapper art by Ali*
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For anyone who wants to taste multiple teas without too much commitment, these tea flights are a perfect option. Each gift box contains four of our favorite Chinese red/black teas, plus information on the region, harvest season, steeping suggestions for gaiwan brewing and extra tidbits. There is enough of each tea to make several servings and explore the differences between styles and regions.
Each flight contains Jinjunmei, Golden Snail, Golden Monkey and Pure Gold Needle.
Plus, you can sleep easy, the packaging is all compostable, including the bioplastic bags!
$ 10.00
This tea is a sweet and simple treat just in time for sharing with your loved ones. Large leaf, old growth leaves from Ai Lao Mountain are accented with whole wild roses to create a gorgeous and delicious tea. The resulting infusion balances hearty flavors of warm cedarwood with a floral touch and lush, malty finish. It can be prepared in a gaiwan with short, repeated steeps to bring out a progression of deepened flavors, or steeped longer for a rich, decadent cup that can stand up to the addition of milk and sugar.
Origin: Yunnan, China
Harvest: 2022
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For anyone who wants to taste multiple teas without too much commitment, these tea flights are a perfect option. Each gift box contains four of our favorite Taiwanese and Chinese oolongs, plus information on the region, harvest season, steeping suggestions for gaiwan brewing and extra tidbits. There is enough of each tea to make several servings and explore the differences between styles and regions.
Each flight contains Charcoal Tieguanyin, Black Honey, Wuliang Beauty and Duck Sh*t Aroma.
Plus, you can sleep easy, the packaging is all compostable, including the bioplastic bags!
$ 30.00
From the family who makes everyone's favorite Charcoal Roasted Tieguanyin, here is a new tea we are so happy to offer. This unroasted oolong is crafted from old growth Tieguanyin varietals and is a lovely example of a lesser-made style of this tea. Allowing the leaves to lightly oxidize and leaving them unroasted brings out flavors that can get covered up in the roasting process. The aroma has a thick floral body without being perfumy. The leaves unfurl and steep with a multitude of progressing flavors, each one leaving the palate with a soft, cleansed sensation.
Process: Organic
Harvest: Spring, 2022
Origin: Anxi, China