2024 Reserve Laoshan Gongfu Black
Black Tea
He Family – Laoshan
Black Tea from Laoshan
Black Tea from Laoshan
Crafted By the He Family
- DATE OF PICKINGApril 2024
- Laoshan VillageShandong Province
- ELEVATIONsea level
- longjing quntiTea Varietal
Laoshan Gongfu Black is one of the most difficult finishes for the He Family, requiring flat-pressing and hand-twisting and curling to achieve the final shape and finish. Mr. He saves this technique for his finest spring harvests, and for the second year in a row, the He Family has reserved a small harvest of a very special grade of Laoshan Gongfu Black. The hand-twisted 'pine needles' are made with the buddy early harvest shade-grown picking, while the tea plants are still protected from the early spring cold of Laoshan's unique northern climate.
- DATE OF PICKINGApril 2024
Tasting Profile
- savory - butterscotch caramel
- savory - malt chocolate
- spice - star anise, cinnamon
- fruit - juicy plum
- floral - vanilla, honey
- texture - marshmallow
The He Family also recommends:
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!
photos courtesy of He Qingqing, April 2024
'The initial aromas are full of rich, tangy goji berry, raisin, and savory roasted chestnut. For us, the initial sips had the thick pastry like quality of croissant with deep chocolate flavor. As we continued steeping out the tea, we got dark fruit and hearty bran flavor with a big, thick honey aftertaste and texture. In the latest steepings we tasted toasted marshmallow and graham'
Steeping Instructions
Western
5 g.6-8
oz.use 205° watersteep 30 secondsresteep many times
add 15-30 sec. each infusionGongfu
5 g.4 ozuse 205° watersteep 8 seconds
add 3-4 sec. per steepingenjoy many steepingsIced/Cold
5 g.12
oz.use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
8 hoursadd ice & enjoy
Product Photo Gallery
photos courtesy of He Qingqing, April 2024
