The best Oolongs come from Taiwan (Formosa) where the character of short-fired oolongs has been described as peach like with a refreshing fruity herbaceous character whereas long-fired oolongs take on bakey notes with rich amber liquids.

This tea falls into the latter category.

Loose Leaf Tea in 2oz., 4oz. or 8oz. Foil Bags

2oz. for $3.19 ~ 4oz. for $5.59 ~ 8oz. for $8.09

Cup Characteristics: A tea with a thin liquor and a bakey but somewhat sweet fruity character.

Infusion: Tending black (noting the longer fermentation time for this type of oolong).

Information:  Oolong means semi fermented. After rolling, the tea is allowed to ferment only until the edges of the leaves start to turn brown. The tea is then fired which arrests the fermenting process and captures the interesting character associated with Oolong tea. In Taiwan, producing oolong tea involves highly specialized skills in the control of the withering, oxidation and firing. A slight variance in any of these gives each variety a distinctive aroma, flavor, color and finish.

The best Oolongs come from Taiwan (Formosa) where the character of short-fired oolongs has been described as peach like with a refreshing fruity herbaceous character whereas long-fired oolongs take on bakey notes with rich amber liquids. This tea falls into the latter category.
It is worth noting that in Taiwan, the making of oolong tea is regarded as a precious art that requires years of training. From the nursing of a seedling, to planting, to nourishing the bushes, to properly selecting the best time to pluck the leaves, the husbandry of the tea farmer is a legacy passed down from many generations. It is felt that only the application of years of dedicated study and practice, combined with the unique character of Taiwan tealeaves, can provide the exceptional quality oolong teas that have made the island famous for its teas.

An interesting footnote: During the 2nd World War the production of tea was greatly expanded while the island was occupied. This production was exported to Japan to supplement their own production, which was falling below domestic demand.

Wildly exotic. Toasty roundness with fruity jasmine notes. In the background there is a hint of a floral character that adds mystery to the tea.

Loose Leaf Tea in 2oz., 4oz. or 8oz. Foil Bags

2oz. for $3.19 ~ 4oz. for $5.59 ~ 8oz. for $8.09

Cup Characteristics: Toasty roundness with fruity jasmine notes. In the background there is a hint of a floral character that adds mystery to the tea.

Infusion: Golden amber.

Information:  Oolong tea is semi fermented which is one of the reasons it has such a unique character. The semi fermentation gives the tea a little bit more body than a green tea but less body than a black tea ... and interestingly it gives the flavor a very unique twist. You will see (particularly in the infused leaf) that the edges of the leaves are slightly bruised (brownish). The reason for this is that the leaves are lightly bruised to start the oxidation process. During this process the characteristic ‘curly’ leaf is also created. After 15-25 minutes (depending upon ambient temperature and humidity levels) the tea is fired, locking in the special flavor profile.

The orange and citrus character of the flavored Ceylon teas we used blends extremely well with the toasty character of oolong. The tea is lively and refreshing and takes milk well. In tea tasters jargon the tea could almost be described as ‘jammy’. During our experiments with this tea we discovered that this tea is exceptional as an iced tea as well as being delicious hot. Tea masters such as Okakura Kakuzo remind us that the aesthetic value of tea must be appreciated in a manner not unlike fine art.

Origin: CHINA Guangdong Province

Infusion: Pale green yellow liquor.

Heirloom Oolong Tea

The flavor and aroma that arose was something not encountered before.

8oz of the world's finest Oolong tea in a canister & Gift Box.

8oz Canister and Gift Box for $32.75

Cup Characteristics: A light ‘airy’ character with unbelievable floral notes. Floral notes are reminiscent of orchids and is a taste not found in any other tea in the world except from selected tea bushes in Guangdong Province.

Information: To understand this tea it is important to know of the legendary origin of the special bush which grows this tea.:
Centuries ago when China was ruled by state despots and tea was being discovered and coveted for its curative powers, there was a regional ruler (despot) living near Jinxing Shantou. Several of his staff while tending the palace’s orchid garden came upon a bush that was very similar to a tea bush. Being a hot sultry and humid day - and it was a good time to have a rest anyway - they heated water and dropped some leaves into a pot to let them steep. The flavor and aroma that arose was something they had not encountered before. One of their group excitedly ran to the palace with a sample to tell the despot. He tasted this nectar of orchid tea and declared it a state treasure. The worker was instructed to show the despot the location of the bush. Once the location was known all the workers were put to death in order to preserve the secret of this outstanding tea.

Oolong tea is semi fermented which is one of the reasons it has such a unique character. The semi fermentation gives the tea a little bit more body than a green tea but less body than a black tea ... and interestingly it gives the flavor a very unique twist. You will see that the edges of the leaves are slightly bruised (brownish). The reason for this is that the tea was shaken in a bamboo basket to bruise the leaves to start the oxidation process. The finished leaf has beautiful ‘pink’ edges with ‘veins’ while the leaf stays green.

One of the world's most subtle and expensive teas, light and mild, with fruity, slightly sweet flavour that harmonizes the elements of black and green tea.

20 Premium Teabags $4.99

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One of the world's great teas, a favoured drink in mainland China and Taiwan.

Oolong is semi-fermented, with qualities of black and green teas.

Distinctive fruity taste and golden color.

20 Tea Bags...$3.75

Buy 6 or more of the same flavour & price is $3.25 - Save 50¢ each!

PEONY WHITE NEEDLE

(Very Rare China White Tea)

Country of Origin: China

Region: Chongqing Province

Loose Leaf Tea in 2oz., 4oz. or 8oz. Foil Bags

2oz. for $14.79 ~ 4oz. for $24.09

Cup Characteristics: A delicate lingering fragrance and a fresh mellow sweet taste devoid of astringency or grassy flavor.

Infusion: A shimmering clear infusion.

Information:  The production of white tea is very different to green tea. Firstly the leaves come from a special varietal tea bush called Narcissus or chaicha bushes. Secondly the leaves are not steamed or pan-fired as is the case in green tea. These leaves are dried and withered in the sun. If mechanical drying is required the leaves are baked (not fired) at temperatures less that 40’C. Thirdly only special ‘two leaves and a bud’ are selected. These leaves must show a very light green almost gray white color and be covered with velvet peach fuzz down. The ideal is a leaf or two being wrapped around a newly developing shoot. These shoots are plucked and segregated from the rest of the leaf being plucked. These leaves are then naturally withered and the painstaking process on final manual selection occurs.
Peony White Needle Tea is the top grade available and very rare - hence its high cost. You will see two intact grayish white leaves that surround a silver bud. The two leaves and a bud that adhere to the stem in a uniform manner are covered with a silvery white down. These are the rules for picking Peony White Tea:
- Only picked between March 15 and April 10.
- Not picked on days that may be raining
- Not picked if the dew has not dried or if there is frost on the ground
- No purple buds allowed and the stems must not be too long or too short.
- Leaves damaged by wind, handling, insects or partially open are rejected and put into a lower grade.
The western cosmetic industry has recently discovered the benefits of white tea. In addition to its anticancer properties, tea has a calming and detoxifying effect on the skin. White tea is especially potent in that it is has three times as many antioxidant polyphenols as green or black tea and has been shown to be 100% more effective in mopping up free radicals that cause skin to sag. Some of the world’s top cosmetic companies are becoming very interested in white tea for skin creams and the result is that high grade white tea is becoming even more rare than before.

SOWMEE a.k.a. Shou Mei

(China White Tea)

Country of Origin: China

Region: Fujian Province

Loose Leaf Tea in 4oz. or 6oz. Foil Bags

4oz. for $2.89 ~ 6oz. for $3.99

Cup Characteristics: Delicious toasty character with body reminiscent of Oolongs. Lingering taste that encourages another cup.

Infusion: Tending orange red with golden notes.

Information:  White tea is very different from other types of tea such as green or black tea. White tea leaves are plucked from a special varietal tea bush called Narcissus or chaicha bushes. Secondly the leaves are not steamed or pan-fired (the process used in green teas) or fermented and fired (the process used in black tea). The leaves are naturally withered and dried in the sun. If mechanical drying is required it is a baking process at temperatures less that 40’C. Thirdly only special ‘two leaves and a bud’ are selected. These leaves must show a very light green almost gray white color and be ideally be covered with velvet peach fuzz down. Sowmee is one of the lower grades of white tea, but despite this it has the properties attributed to white teas. The leaves for Sowmee are plucked during late April, May and June. The lack of processing and hand selection is evident in the leaf appearance of Sowmee as it is somewhat mixed and tending flaky and flat. This Sowmee has a more pronounced taste profile - almost oolong tea-like. Many white tea drinkers prefer this cup in that there is a ‘substance’ to the taste compared to the delicate nuances of other white teas.
Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute in Oregon tested white teas on selected rats to test for the ability of white tea to inhibit natural mutations in bacteria and to protect them from colon cancer. Interestingly, white teas were found to be more effective than green tea in inhibiting the early stages of cancer but researchers pointed out that their study was on rats and the effects should not be extrapolated to humans. The researchers also found that white tea contains higher levels of caffeine compared to green tea brewed under the same conditions. They suggested that this could occur because white tea oxidizes during withering whereas in green tea the oxidation process is stopped early in the tea making process by steaming or panfiring.
The western cosmetic industry is beginning to make a white tea extract to be worn underneath your moisturizer. The reason is that it seems white tea has been shown to be more effective in mopping up free radicals that cause skin to sag. One tea expert has been quoted as saying ‘unlike black or green tea, it isn’t rolled or steamed, this preserves its antioxidant properties’.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly (à la chinoise) - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180’F or 80’C. Place 1-2 teaspoons of leaves in your cup and let the tea steep for 3 minutes. Then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on - until the tea flavor is exhausted. Milk or sugar will mask the delicate characters of this tea and are not recommended. Look at the pattern of the leaves - they foretell life.