2023 Spring Golden Needle Black Tea

Harvested Spring 2023, this is a rare black tea yielded from material sourced from old trees in the Lincang region of Yunnan. The bud picking style has small soft furs, and is oxidized on the lighter side - revealing complex flavors. The tea starts with a gentle sweetness, hints of light malt, and finishes with light graham cracker, dark chocolate and honey. This tea has moderate to high caffeine. Ladders are used to take the early pickings from very high off the old trees, after which, the tea master takes charge, who has been producing this tea for over 50 years.

Characteristic Tasting Notes:

Malt, Chocolate, Faint Vanilla, Honey, Graham Cracker

Brewing Instructions:

Water Temp: 188-192F

Amount: 4-7g tea, 140-200ml vessel

Steeping Time: 

1st Infusion: 5-6 seconds.

2nd Infusion: 5-6 seconds.

3rd Infusion: 6-8 seconds.

4th Infusion: 8-10 seconds.

5th Infusion: 15 seconds (add 5 additional seconds for any subsequent infusions after the 5th).

Western Brewing Method:

Use 5g of tea for every 0.5 liters of water. Fill teapot or brewing device with water that's between 194-206F and steep for 2-3 minutes. Longer steep times upwards of 4 minutes may bring out some astringency - but experiment and see what you enjoy best! This is overall a fantastic tea for "grandpa style" brewing.

Cold Brew Method:

Use 5g of tea for every 0.5 liters of water. Refrigerate for a minimum of 18 hours, with maximum strength at 24 hours.