The leaves of this batch of tea were hand-picked from organically grown Four Seasons Spring tea trees. It was a very minimal harvest of new-growth from late summer 2022. We've learned that this singular hand-picked crop of tea produces the best quality GABA Oolong Tea that we've ever tasted. They only make it once a year, and it's very limited in quantity. So we feel like it's a perfect pick for the Eco-Cha Tea Club!
Batch 90 of theEco-Cha Tea Clubis anEco-Farmed GABA Oolong Tea. We coined the termEco-Farmedto designate teas that are sourced from a certified organic tea farm, without representing the organic certifications. This family of farmers implements the most natural farming methods we've seen in the local tea industry here in Taiwan. Our friend has independently pioneered these farming methods, and after more than 20 years of challenging research, is now successfully managing several plots of tea and producing specialty types of organic tea.
Batch 89 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is made from leaves that sprouted with the first signs of spring 2023. Bi Luo Chun Green Tea produced in the Sanxia District of the greater Taipei area is by far the earliest spring harvest of all on the island of Taiwan.
The combined factors of late winter leaf material that was affected by the Green Leafhopper, and cured by an elder artisan in the Lugu Oolong tradition produce a unique brew of Oolong Tea. The aroma that exudes from the tea pot between brews offers mildly savory, honey scone and buttery notes. The flavor profile is complex yet integrated to the point of making it difficult to name what is being experienced. There are hints of warming spices, roasted winter vegetables, buttery, pastry and honey/fruity notes. All of this gets finished with just enough bitter and astringent qualities to make the flavor profile linger and morph in the aftertaste. It's well-composed character makes a lasting impression, and one that never gets old.
Dong Pian is the Chinese name given to crops of tea that are harvested at least two weeks after the start of winter (立冬) according the the calendar of24 Solar Terms. This batch of tea was harvested a full month after this date. So it is a proper Late Winter (Dong Pian) harvest. The weather this late in the year, combined with this crop being bug bitten, and processed by a traditional Oolong Tea master have given us a singular batch of exemplary Oolong Tea in the Lugu tradtion!
Batch 87 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is a Dong Ding Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea. You can read about the source of this teaHERE. These leaves are from spring 2022 harvest in Lugu, Taiwan. They have undergone repeated roastings for more than 80 hours total over a few months. They were then allowed to "rest" for more than six months before we packaged them up to share with the tea club.
Batch 87 of theEco-Cha Tea Clubis a Dong Ding Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea made from spring 2022 harvest in Yonglong Village, Lugu Township, Taiwan. This is the fourth time we are sharing this type of tea over the seven plus years of the tea club. We first offered it inDecember 2015, and a second time inJanuary 2018. These two batches were made by the patriarch of the Su Clan, and that January 2018 batch was the last batch of tea we procured from this local legend of a tea maker.Batch 77was made by his nephew, as is this current batch. We've known and learned about tea from the Su Family for a decade now.
Batch 86 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is a Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea that stands apart in both its quality and the pristine environment in which it grows. Read about the farm and its caretakers in our sourcing post, and watch the video below for visuals of its environs.
Batch 86 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is a Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea. But this tea garden in the highest elevations of the Shan Lin Xi tea growing region is an anomaly that dates back to the Japanese occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945). During this time the Japanese cut down original growth forests in any accessible regions, including this area. This family's ancestor was employed by the Japanese to reforest the area with bamboo and pine trees. In the process, they were given land rights in this region, which allowed them to plant a small plot of tea in an area that is now within a forest park. This is the only tea garden on this mountainside.
Batch 85 kicks off our eighth year running of the Eco-Cha Tea Club, and we are celebrating with Mr. Lin's seventh winter harvest from his certified organic tea farm. You can learn all about our connection to this tea farmer and his work in oursourcing blogpost.
Batch 85 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is the 7th anniversary commemoration of Eco-Cha's cooperation with Mr. and Mrs. Lin. Seven years ago as of this winter's harvest, Mr. and Mrs. Lin produced their very first crop of certified organic tea from their newly established farm. In support of their endeavor, we ran a crowd funding campaign to procure the entire inaugural harvest. After reaching our initial goal, we ran a booster campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the cabin on their remote homesteaded farmland where Mr. Lin was born and raised.