Verdant Tea

2023 Spring Laoshan Black

2023 Spring Laoshan Black

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 Iconic Chocolatey Malty
Laoshan Black
Fresh sweet spring harvest black tea hand-picked by the He Family in Laoshan and finished in their family workshop to bring out iconic notes of brown sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Fresh sweet spring harvest black tea hand-picked by the He Family in Laoshan and finished in their family workshop to bring out iconic notes of chocolate and honey. Now available for pre-order!
May 24, 2023 ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
 Iconic Chocolatey Malty
Laoshan Black
Fresh sweet spring harvest black tea hand-picked by the He Family in Laoshan and finished in their family workshop to bring out iconic notes of brown sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Fresh sweet spring harvest black tea hand-picked by the He Family in Laoshan and finished in their family workshop to bring out iconic notes of chocolate and honey. Now available for pre-order!
May 24, 2023 ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
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Crafted By the He Family

Pioneers and community leaders, the He Family is dedicated to making a name for their stunningly smooth, malty, rich teas cultivated in China’s coldest, northernmost growing region.
 
Grown using old-school organic farming techniques on the rocky foothills of Laoshan, protected by ocean mist and fed by sweet spring water.
    • DATE OF PICKINGMay 24, 2023
    • Laoshan VillageShandong Province
    • ELEVATIONsea level
    • longjing quntiTea Varietal

    This relatively new tea is fed by sweet mountain spring water and oxidized in the sun for three days before finishing to bring out signature chocolate notes. Mr. He perfected this tea as a proud reflection of the bold Shandong spirit and the perseverance of Laoshan Village. Laoshan Black is a labor of love to prove to the world how wonderful teas from Northern China can be. The body is light and smooth, without astringency.

  • true
    90
    malted chocolate, brown sugar, toasted barley
    true
    60
    pomegranate
    true
    60
    cinnamon, cedar
    true
    40
    vanilla
    true
    rich, lingering

    Tasting Profile

    • savory - malted chocolate, brown sugar, toasted barley
    • fruit - pomegranate
    • spice - cinnamon, cedar
    • floral - vanilla
    • texture - rich, lingering

Spring 2024 Update from the Fields

Cold weather in Laoshan means smaller yields, and a long season of shade-grown covered green tea before the protective greenhouse coverings come down. 

A very mild spring with very little rainfall has made for particularly concentrated creamy textural green tea and black tea. Cool weather persisted longer than usual, which kept protective shaded coverings on through April. This meant slow growth, but particularly tender sweet buds.

Not only is He Qingqing busy helping her parents finish this spring's fresh tea, but she and her husband are also celebrating the arrival of their son Liu Mu-Mu, just a few months old and already helping with the fresh Flat Pressed Laoshan Green.

Congratulations to the He Family for a wonderful spring season!

Liu Jiaqi with her brother Mu Mu
fresh picked Laoshan tea buds
fresh 2023 Laoshan tea leaves
making Reserve Laoshan Biluochun green
brewing fresh Laoshan green tea
spring 2023 Laoshan tea plants

photos courtesy of He Qingqing, April 2024

the He Family also recommends:

  • 'Over several days, Mr. He and his daughter QingQing walked us through the intensive processes involved in making Laoshan Black Tea. Making just 10 pounds of black tea in Laoshan takes 4 to 6 people three full days to process after picking'

  • 4
    6-8
    205
    40 seconds
    15-30
    5
    5
    205
    10 seconds
    3
    4
    12
    room temp
    8 hours

    Steeping Instructions

    Western

    4 g.6-8
    oz.
    use 205° watersteep 40 secondsresteep many times
    add 15-30 sec. each infusion

    Gongfu

    5 g.5 ozuse 205° watersteep 10 seconds
    add 3 sec. per steeping
    enjoy many steepings

    Iced/Cold

    4 g.12
    oz.
    use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
    8 hours
    add ice & enjoy

Product Photo Gallery

Liu Jiaqi with her brother Mu Mu
fresh picked Laoshan tea buds
fresh 2023 Laoshan tea leaves
making Reserve Laoshan Biluochun green
brewing fresh Laoshan green tea
spring 2023 Laoshan tea plants

photos courtesy of He Qingqing, April 2024