Verdant Tea

2026 Spring Laoshan Black

2026 Spring Laoshan Black

banner
Iconic Chocolatey Malty
Laoshan Black
Hearty rich + malty northern cool-climate tea, hand-picked, fully oxidized, rolled and fired in a family workshop. The He Family brings out notes of cocoa powder, allspice, dried cherry and vanilla.
May 2026 ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
Hearty rich + malty northern cool-climate tea, hand-picked, fully oxidized, rolled and fired in a family workshop. The new 2026 harvest is now available to reserve on pre-order!
ETA: start of July ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
Iconic Chocolatey Malty
Laoshan Black
Hearty rich + malty northern cool-climate tea, hand-picked, fully oxidized, rolled and fired in a family workshop. The He Family brings out notes of cocoa powder, allspice, dried cherry and vanilla.
May 2026 ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
Hearty rich + malty northern cool-climate tea, hand-picked, fully oxidized, rolled and fired in a family workshop. The new 2026 harvest is now available to reserve on pre-order!
ETA: start of July ♦ Laoshan, Shandong
Loading...

SPRING 2026 PRE-ORDER

This Spring 2026 pre-order tea from the He Family in Laoshan is available to reserve on pre-order while supplies last.

This tea is arriving now and shipping directly ASAP. Orders containing this pre-order tea will wait to ship until all teas in your order have arrived. 

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 2026
    • Laoshan VillageShandong Province
    • ELEVATIONsea level
    • longjing quntiTea Varietal

    The He Family’s Laoshan Black has become their most famous tea, earning them features in the US and Chinese news media for their innovative work. This tea is fed by Laoshan’s famously sweet mountain spring water and oxidized traditionally for three days before finishing to bring out rich chocolate notes. Rich, full bodied and satisfying, Laoshan Black has become our benchmark for all other black teas.

  • true
    70
    toasted barley, cocoa powder
    true
    60
    dried cherry
    true
    60
    allspice
    true
    50
    vanilla
    true
    rich, sweet, toasty

    Tasting Profile

    • savory - toasted barley, cocoa powder
    • fruit - dried cherry
    • spice - allspice
    • floral - vanilla
    • texture - rich, sweet, toasty

The He Family also recommends:

Spring 2026 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!

He Changke works with fresh leaves
fresh picked Laoshan tea buds
fresh 2026 Laoshan tea leaves
fresh picked 2026 Laoshan tea
brewing fresh Laoshan green tea
spring 2026 Laoshan tea plants

photos courtesy of He Qingqing, March 2026

  • 'In their own words, Mr. He and Verdant co-owner He Qingqing take us behind-the-scenes at their family workshop to show the meticulous care that goes into making their famous Laoshan Black tea'

  • 4
    6-8
    205
    30 seconds
    15-30
    5
    5
    205
    2-3 seconds
    3
    5
    12
    40
    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 205° watersteep 2-3 seconds
    add 3 sec. per steeping
    enjoy many steepings

    Iced/Cold

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

Product Photo Gallery

Copyright © 2013-present Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.