Huang Zhi Xiang (Orange Blossom)

$36.00

Product Details >

漢字黃枝香鳳凰單丛	origin Wudong Shan, Guangdong	craft nong xiang	flavor notes citrus, honey
漢字黃枝香鳳凰單丛	origin Wudong Shan, Guangdong
craft nong xiang	flavor notes citrus, honey

Huang Zhi Xiang is one of our most elegant Phoenix Oolong teas. Its name loosely translates to "Orange Blossom Fragrance" because of the hint of citrus oil in the tea's natural aroma. Grown at over 900 meters above sea level on Wudong Mountain, Phoenix Range, our Huang Zhi Xiang was gathered in April from 100+ year old trees, originally propagated from 600+ year old Phoenix Shui Xian mother tree. Combined production from this grove for the Spring harvest is only about 30 kilograms, from which we were able to acquire 10 kilograms.

The tea is finished somewhere between a "Qing" and "Nong Xiang" at an oxidation rate of about 25%. The result is a preservation of the brighter citrus oil character of the varietal while delivering a rounder, honey-like quality to the tea. We selected this tea over another more brilliantly floral character because of its thicker, smoother character and more pronounced and persistent finish, an indication of the age and lineage of this tea.

Brewing Guide

Phoenix Oolongs are complex and delicious teas, but are exceptionally difficult to brew. There are two approaches, the friendlier path on the brewing guide below will result in a tea that is very sweet and floral, with light honey notes. In Chaozhou, however, such a light brew would be considered much too light. The traditional method of brewing Phoenix Oolongs is to emphasize aftertaste and finish. This means a tea that is initially bitter to the untrained palate, but delivers a finish that is intense and persistent.

To brew Huang Zhi Xiang in the traditional style, begin with 5 grams of tea leaves in a gaiwan or small tea pot. Use boiling water to first rinse the tea leaves, then brew for 1 minute. On the second infusion, also steep for 1 minute, adding approximately 10 seconds to subsequent infusions. Brewed this way, the tea would yield more than 10 rounds.

Gaiwan/Teapot (6 oz.)

leaves 3 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 1 min

Teapot (12 oz.)

leaves 5 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 2 min

Infuser Cup

leaves 3 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 1 min 30 sec

Tea Bowl

leaves 2.5 grams
temp 200 ° F

Gaiwan/Teapot (6 oz.)

leaves 3 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 1 min

Teapot (12 oz.)

leaves 5 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 2 min

Infuser Cup

leaves 3 grams
temp 205 ° F
time 1 min 30 sec

Tea Bowl

leaves 2.5 grams
temp 200 ° F

Related products

Heritage Golden Buddha

Sold out

jEmail us about this product

漢字武夷金佛, 炭焙	origin Wuyi Shan, Fujian	craft charcoal roasted	flavor notes graham cracker, caramel
漢字武夷金佛, 炭焙	origin Wuyi Shan, Fujian
craft charcoal roasted	flavor notes graham cracker, caramel

A new Wuyi oolong cultivar developed over a decade ago by the Wuyi Shan Tea Research Institute, Golden Buddha was created to highlight the sweet, creamy characteristics of traditional Wuyi Yan Chas. Our Heritage Golden Buddha is thus a marrying of new and old – a fairly new varietal crafted... →

Lishan, Spring 2019

$31.00

jEmail us about this product

漢字梨山烏龍春茶	origin Lishan, Taiwan	craft qing xiang	flavor notes floral, creamy
漢字梨山紅茶, 蜜香	origin Lishan, Taiwan
craft qing xiang	flavor notes floral, creamy

Peaking at 2200 meters above sea level, Lishan is the third highest mountain amongst the 12 that make up the Lishan Range. The tea garden from which this tea is harvested lies at approximately 2000 meters (6500 feet) above sea level, an elevation that yields temperate weather in the summer... →

Jin Xuan, Winter Sprout

$40.00

jEmail us about this product

漢字冬片,烏龍茶	origin Alishan, Taiwan	craft qing xiang	flavor notes mango, buttercream
漢字冬片,烏龍茶	origin Alishan, Taiwan
craft qing xiang	flavor notes mango, buttercream

Called “Dong Pian” in Chinese, Winter Sprout is by far our most unusual tea acquisition from Taiwan. Formosa winter teas are typically picked from mid-to-late November. If the winter is mild enough, the tea plant will sometimes grow a new sprout before slipping into cold weather dormancy. Our Winter Sprout... →

Tung Ting, Dark Roast

$13.00

jEmail us about this product

漢字炭焙凍頂	origin Nantou County, Taiwan	craft qing xiang, roasted	flavor notes toffee, brown sugar
漢字炭焙凍頂	origin Nantou County, Taiwan
craft qing xiang, roasted	flavor notes toffee, brown sugar

Each year, a portion of our winter harvest Tung Ting is set aside to be roasted to a greater degree than most Formosa oolongs. The process darkens the tea to create a rich and sweet tea that is smooth and fragrant. The sweetness of our winter crop Tung Ting from... →