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Hello, Winter Season’s Greetings to Oolong fans around the world! We are pleased to announce that winter tea is in stock and available in time for the holidays. We have fine samples of the usual fare to offer, as well as a dark roast high mountain Shan Lin Xi for a special-tea. The relatively dry months of fall that make up the growing season of winter tea is perhaps the most significant contributing factor to what gives winter tea its character. And this year is a classic example of this: while the bulk of the growing season remained warm as well as having little rain, there was a quick cold front that came through in the final days prior to harvest that gave the plants the chill they needed to know that it’s winter time. The effect of this chill manifests in the harvested leaves as a slightly bitter flavor that is balanced out by the substantial well rounded composition of winter tea. This results in a tea that has a kick without becoming too astringent. In comparison, spring tea is lighter, more floral, and sweeter than winter tea. Winter tea has a root vegetable character of flavor that is complimented by an herbal/pine aroma that makes it a heady brew. The hearty nature of winter tea has always been my favorite. The experience of a bitter flavor being “suspended” in a viscous bouquet of naturally occurring aromatic essential oils is something I will never tire of. In fact, having said that – I suddenly need to take a tea break! … Well, that winter Alishan tea break on Saturday afternoon lasted right into Sunday evening. After brewing all five selections of winter tea throughout the day to get yet-a-bit-more familiar with the teas we have to offer this winter – we are ready to share the bounty. As noted above, there is a selection that we are particularly excited to share. It is the Shan Lin Xi high mountain tea that has been processed in the fashion of Dong Ding Oolong. This means that the leaves were allowed to oxidize more than high mountain tea, and then roasted after being rolled and dried to produce a hearty mellow full flavored brew. The sturdy composition of high mountain leaf holds up to extensive roasting in a way that maintains a complexity of flavor while being mellowed by this classic oolong curing process. To put it simply, it's what we live for here at Black Dragon Teas. Having said all that, we will let you get to it and make your pick of choice in preparation of holiday cheer. Enjoy, and happy holidays. |
As always – in tea, |
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