Fine Tea

Profiles of some of the fine teas served at our classes and gatherings:

Anji Bai Cha (安吉白茶)

Anji Bai Cha leaves in a white bowl

Anji Bai Cha is cherished for its luminous, pale-green liquor and delicate flavor—sweet, nutty, and lightly floral, with a smooth, cooling finish. Its high levels of L-theanine give the tea a calming, clarifying quality, balancing gentle caffeine with a sense of ease. Rich in antioxidants, it is enjoyed not only for its refreshing taste but also for its reputation in supporting focus, heart health, and overall vitality.

Though called a “white tea,” Anji Bai Cha is a green tea made from the rare Bai Ye No. 1 cultivar. For just a brief window each spring, the leaves unfurl almost white, a fleeting gift of the season. Once praised by the Song dynasty emperor Huizong and rediscovered only in recent decades, this tea continues to embody both rarity and refinement—an elegant reminder of tea’s living history.

Phoenix Dancong (凤凰单丛)

Phoenix Dancong long dark twisted leaves

Phoenix Dancong is prized for its remarkable range of aromas—orchid, honey, almond, and stone fruit, to name just a few. Each infusion is layered: a smooth, amber liquor with a lingering floral sweetness balanced by gentle minerality from its rocky terroir. This tea is also rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, supporting circulation, digestion, and clarity of mind, while its moderate caffeine and abundant amino acids bring calm focus without heaviness.

Originating from the high slopes of the Phoenix Mountain (凤凰山) in Guangdong, Dancong teas trace back nearly a thousand years. “Dancong” means “single bush,” a reflection of how each ancient tea tree is valued for its distinct fragrance, harvested and processed individually to preserve its character. Over centuries, this careful cultivation has created one of China’s most celebrated oolong traditions—complex, aromatic, and deeply tied to its mountain home.

Bai Mudan / White Peony (白牡丹)

Bai Mudan loose tea in a white dish

White Peony is a classic white tea known for its gentle yet expressive character. The flavor is soft, floral, and lightly sweet, with notes of fresh hay, melon, and honey, balanced by a clean mineral finish. Its refreshing lightness makes it an ideal daily tea, while its high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and amino acids are said to support skin health, calm the nerves, and boost immunity. With low caffeine compared to green or black teas, it offers clarity without overstimulation.

Originating from Fujian province, Bai Mudan is made from tender young buds with one or two surrounding leaves, harvested in early spring. Compared to Silver Needle, it carries more body and depth, while retaining the elegance and delicacy of white tea. Revered since the Song dynasty, it embodies the understated beauty of Fujian’s mountains and remains one of the most beloved introductions to the world of white tea.

Jin Jun Mei (金骏眉)

Jin Jun Mei curly golden-black buds

Jin Jun Mei is a celebrated black tea known for its rich, honeyed depth and golden liquor. Each cup reveals layers of malt, cocoa, and sweet potato, finishing with a gentle floral lift and smooth sweetness that lingers on the tongue. Despite its strength, it remains refined—full-bodied yet balanced, invigorating without harshness. Abundant in antioxidants and theaflavins, Jin Jun Mei supports heart health and metabolism, offering warmth and vitality with every sip.

Born in the misty Wuyi Mountains of Fujian, this tea is crafted exclusively from young buds picked early in spring. Every bud is hand-rolled and lightly baked over charcoal, producing its signature aroma and golden hue. Once reserved for connoisseurs, it has become one of China’s most prized black teas—a harmony of craftsmanship, purity, and mountain spirit.

Yunnan Jinggu Moonlight White (云南景谷月光白)

Moonlight White two-tone buds

Moonlight White is a poetic white tea with a fragrance as soft as dusk and a taste as serene as moonlight. Its liquor is pale gold, carrying notes of honey, orchid, and ripe plum, underlined by a faint cooling sweetness. Smooth and round on the palate, it leaves a soothing aftertaste that deepens over multiple infusions. High in polyphenols and amino acids, it is said to support calm focus, gentle digestion, and restful sleep—an evening companion as tranquil as its name.

Harvested in Jinggu, Yunnan—home to ancient tea trees—its leaves are withered under the moon rather than the sun, giving them their unique silver-and-brown sheen. This slow, nocturnal drying preserves both freshness and fragrance. The result is a tea that bridges white and puerh traditions: delicate, yet profound, reflecting Yunnan’s earthy grace and quiet mystery.

Anxi Tieguanyin (安溪铁观音)

Anxi Tieguanyin bright green rolled leaves

Tieguanyin, the “Iron Goddess of Mercy,” is a semi-oxidized oolong celebrated for its floral perfume and lingering sweetness. The flavor unfolds with orchid, honey, and a gentle creaminess, balanced by a clean, mineral finish. Its natural theanine content promotes focus and calm, while its light oxidation preserves freshness and fragrance.

Originating in Anxi County, Fujian, Tieguanyin is hand-rolled and lightly roasted to capture its signature orchid aroma. Each steep reveals new dimensions of flavor, from floral to fruity to roasted depth. A tea of devotion and artistry, it has become a timeless symbol of compassion and grace in the world of tea.

Mogan Mountain Yellow Bud (莫干山黄芽)

Mogan Yellow Bud straight tender buds

Mogan Yellow Bud is a rare yellow tea treasured for its golden clarity and mellow sweetness. Its flavor is smooth and silky, with hints of chestnut, spring flowers, and sweet corn, unfolding into a gentle finish with no bitterness. The tea’s light oxidation imparts a warmth between green and white teas—fresh yet rounded, bright yet soft. Naturally rich in amino acids and vitamins, it is said to promote alert calmness and gentle detoxification.

Cultivated on the mist-veiled slopes of Mogan Mountain in Zhejiang, its tender buds are picked early in the season and undergo a delicate “yellowing” process—wrapped and warmed to coax out their signature sweetness. Once favored by scholars and monks for quiet study, Mogan Yellow Bud continues to embody harmony and restraint, a reflection of mountain stillness captured in every cup.

Taiwan Dong Ding Oolong (台湾冻顶乌龙)

Dong Ding rolled oolong pearls

Dong Ding Oolong is one of Taiwan’s most iconic teas, admired for its roasted aroma and balanced body. The flavor is a dance of caramel, toasted nuts, and creamy florals, with a lingering sweetness and soft, buttery texture. Medium in caffeine and rich in antioxidants, it is known to relax the mind while invigorating the senses, making it ideal for contemplative breaks.

Harvested from the misty hills of Nantou County, this tea undergoes partial oxidation and traditional charcoal roasting. The result is a layered, toasty fragrance that deepens with each steeping. Revered for its craftsmanship, Dong Ding embodies Taiwanese artistry—patient, aromatic, and resonant with mountain air.