Verdant Tea

2022 Reserve Laoshan Roasted Oolong

2022 Reserve Laoshan Roasted Oolong

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Early Harvest
Fully-Oxidized Laoshan Oolong
Reserve-level spring harvest tea is gently oxidized like black tea, then finished as an oolong for a genre-defying brew with notes of melon, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
April 2022 ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
Early Harvest
Fully-Oxidized Laoshan Oolong
Reserve-level spring harvest tea is gently oxidized like black tea, then finished as an oolong for a genre-defying brew with notes of melon, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
April 2022 ♦ 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 PICKINGApril 26, 2022
    • Laoshan VillageShandong Province
    • ELEVATIONsea level
    • longjing quntiTea Varietal

    Laoshan Roasted Oolong is a triumph of technique coming together with the iconic chocolatey flavor that Laoshan has become famous for. An eighteen hour process in the workshop brings deep complex minerality, fruity and floral undertones to this fully-oxidized reserve harvest. Since it’s invention just a few seasons ago, the He Family has been sharing their technique with their neighbors; now five families in Laoshan are producing Laoshan Oolong. It is affectionately called “Dou Dou Cha” (little soy bean tea) by everyone in Laoshan, both for Laoshan teas’ unique “soy bean” aroma and for the oolong’s adorable rolled shape. This spring, Mr. He reserved part of his family’s early spring shade-grown harvests specifically to create this special reserve grade Roasted Laoshan Oolong tea.

  • true
    80
    brown sugar, maple, carob
    true
    45
    melon
    true
    80
    roasted sweet potato, malted barley
    true
    55
    cinnamon
    true
    30
    vanilla
    true
    lingering, sweet, sparkling

    Tasting Profile

    • savory - brown sugar, maple, carob
    • fruit - melon
    • savory - roasted sweet potato, malted barley
    • spice - cinnamon
    • floral - vanilla
    • texture - lingering, sweet, sparkling

Spring 2023 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
making Reserve Flat Pressed Laoshan green
fresh 2023 Laoshan tea leaves
spring 2023 Laoshan tea plants
brewing fresh Laoshan green tea
fresh picked Laoshan tea buds

photos courtesy of He Qingqing, April 2023

The He Family also recommends:

  • 'Our farmer-partner Mr. He in Laoshan tells the story of the night his father was visited by the exiled Taoists and given seedlings. The priests stole back their tea and gave it to leaders in the community to plant and grow. Mr. He proudly describes how his father planted the tea, watching it flourish.'

  • 4
    6-8
    205
    30 seconds
    15-30
    5
    5
    185
    5 seconds
    5-10
    7
    32
    room temp
    8 hours

    Steeping Instructions

    Western

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

    Gongfu

    5 g.5 ozuse 185° watersteep 5 seconds
    add 5-10 sec. per steeping
    enjoy many steepings

    Iced/Cold

    7 g.32
    oz.
    use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
    8 hours
    add ice & enjoy

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