{"title":"Oolong","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"2017-spring-dong-ding-traditional-a","title":"Noah's Dong Ding","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is our most mature, nuanced take on traditional Dong Ding oolong. It is painstakingly processed in the old, slow methods and roasted with an eye towards ultimate depth and aging potential*. It is the same material that would go into Mrs. Su's finest Dong Ding Traditional A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach micro-batch is different, but our litmus test before we decide to release a batch of this tea is that it is full in body, expansive in the mouth and can spread out to cause a long lingering aftertaste in the throat. The roast lends it a pleasant toastiness like that of toasted grains, but not an outright charcoal flavor as you might find in dark Tie Guanyin. It is a textural tea with bold, mouthwatering development that reaches into the belly with a warm, grounding feeling. This is a tea that we feel represents the heart and soul of Taiwan. Hearty, genuine, hospitable and unpretentious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWe roast in tiny batch sizes, and your batch will be identified by the roast date written on the bag. Current batch finished on March 30th. This is a 5 roast batch with what I consider a very classic traditional Dong Ding taste. Toasty-grainy and stone fruit with a mineral quality that makes the broth run through the mouth like a refreshing stream. It's not as heavy as five roasts may imply, but it defintely has some fire to it. Overall a very yummy and classical kind of a batch!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're going to try one tea from Floating Leaves, we hope it will be this one. Dong Ding has taught us so much over the years, and we want to share it's humble, heartfelt beauty with you. It is our unofficial flagship tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMake sure to brew with boiling hot water - and pre-warm your teaware. This tea loves the heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*Note on aging : \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to its slow, staggered roasting method, this tea is an excellent candidate for aging. We find it really blooms in 3-6 months after the roasting date. If you can wait 2 years, you'll have something that far outperforms what you paid for. In 7-10 years magic can happen. That's the beauty of traditionally processed and roasted Dong Ding, unlike modern versions it gets better over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFacts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Dong Ding, Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoast Date : 2026 March \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Soft Stem [Ruan Zhi Wu Long]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming : From a garden regularly tested by SGS as having 0% pesticide residues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePodcast Episode\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"100%\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/media\/player\/vv2pp-c217b6?from=usersite\u0026amp;skin=1\u0026amp;share=1\u0026amp;fonts=Helvetica\u0026amp;auto=0\u0026amp;download=1\u0026amp;version=1\" title=\"Stories from Dong Ding Plateau\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39651319480527,"sku":"","price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39651319513295,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/light_DDA.jpg?v=1756941784"},{"product_id":"seasonal-hehuan-high-mountain","title":"Royal Lishan High Mountain 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom a 2200 meter garden on Lishan, this is a tea chock full of intricate little details. The first thing I notice about the aroma is that it’s crystal clear. The tea maker is an artist, and through refined taste and deft skill he created a tea that is supremely elegant. It’s a very classical take on high mountain oolong. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou’ll sometimes hear people describe high mountain oolong as a mountain sprite, beautiful and proud and in a way cold. You can view it from afar, but it doesn’t let you come close. If our Diva high mountain oolong sings like a jazz singer performing an intimate tune, this tea is more like hearing a faint melody drifting in from across a valley. It doesn’t know you’re there, and if you came close it might just stop singing and run away.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe mouthfeel is full of subtle shifts. It is lightfooted and springy, puffing up like a cloud in the mouth. The softness is unparalleled in our lineup. It reaches down to the throat with a gentle, relaxing caress and spreads to the shoulders. Then when you think it’s done, the presence comes back up and just barely touches you with a playful hint of tannin in the very back of the upper palate. The aroma plumes into the nasal cavity and fills the head with an ethereal fragrance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt once a quiet and a lively tea. There’s a lot going on underneath what seems at first glance to be a perfect stillness. A tea for meditators.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNote : I wouldn't say it's hard to brew, but just don't try to make it into something it's not. If you give it time and space to open up in its own way, the tea will reward you with an open, airy performance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Lishan, Taichung County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 2200 Meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39651321675983,"sku":"","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39651321708751,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/royallishanwi25.jpg?v=1763769826"},{"product_id":"seasonal-nantou-sijichun","title":"Nantou Four Seasons","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fragrant oolong, and a great daily drinker. Sweet with bright floral notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is called Four Seasons of Spring (Si Ji Chun) because it provides bountiful harvests all year long. We still only purchase during the Spring and Winter harvests, because those seasons are optimal for growing good tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : Winter 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Four Seasons [Sijichun]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"75g","offer_id":39651321872591,"sku":"","price":12.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/products\/IMG_5321.jpg?v=1680465018"},{"product_id":"dong-ding-red-oolong","title":"Heartwood Hongshui Oolong - Waiting For A New Tea Roaster, New Batch Ready Around End of June","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eOur in-house roasted Hong Shui (Red Water Oolong) is sourced from Dong Ding in central Taiwan and gently roasted in Washington state. This batch was roasted in Seattle in a bamboo basket over electric heating element. The mouthfeel has shifted without the use of charcoal, but we are extremely satisfied with the outcome and are excited to share this new development as it is especially soft and cushy! The richness, full body and cozy aroma are still the main features of this tea, although the aroma is not as firey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAroma is thick and sweet like dried fruit and freshly baked buns, even a hint of darker spices. Because of its Dong Ding origin, this tea leans toward the thick and chewy side of the spectrum, with a rich, comforting broth that drinks like hot cocoa. The fire curing process has  concentrated the broth and aroma but not enough to shift its sweetness into savory. The sweetness of malt makes the foundation of this cozy tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRich and full in the throat, this tea leaves me with a grounded warm energy in my body. Keeps well and improves with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote : Each batch is a little different. Whether charcoal fired or electric fired, the humidity, temperature and (in the case of charcoal) unpredictable burning of a natural heat source all contribute to small changes in this micro-batch tea.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Dong Ding, Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoast Date : 2026 April\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming : Third party testing at this garden found zero pesticide residues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39651323314383,"sku":"","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39651323347151,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/products\/heartwood.jpg?v=1658530053"},{"product_id":"gaba","title":"GABA Oolong 2025","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eStory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eGABA oolong is a specially processed tea which is flushed with nitrogen during the what is traditionally an 'oxidization' process. This creates GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) in the tea leaves, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in our central nervous system. GABA oolong is said to calm the nerves and potentially has a whole host of medicinal benefits, although we'll leave that up to your own research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eWe don't, however, choose teas for their health benefits, we choose teas for their taste. And this rich, red broth-ed GABA oolong is yummy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThis batch was harvested from the same garden as our Diva High Mountain Oolong, and made by the GABA Oolong Master that processed the Lalashan Hongshui all those years back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRich red-amber broth is flavorful and sweet, with notes of caramel and sweet potato, while aromatic spices like cinnamon and dried fruit fill out the top end. Mouthfeel is round, soft and full with an oily texture which coats the throat. Especially fruity and smooth!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slow five day process of alternative shaking and anaerobic fermentation is needed to bring out both the relaxing GABA and the caramel sweet taste. A labor of love, they use some of our favorite high mountain oolong material from the Diva plot on Jian Shi Mountain. The result is an especially complex and smooth red oolong with the unique GABA taste very round and well integrated into the harmony of other flavors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBrewing Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery forgiving to brew, and it does great grandpa style as well as gongfu style. Well suited to chilling after a long day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date - July, 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location - Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar - Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e0% pesticide residues - tested by SGS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39731915817167,"sku":"","price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39731915849935,"sku":"","price":23.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/IMG_5500.jpg?v=1696467772"},{"product_id":"traditional-high-mountain-oolong","title":"Diva High Mountain Oolong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea is from a garden near the indigenous Atayal people's village Smangus, a remote village in Northern Taiwan known for virgin old growth forests and ancient cypress trees.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea broth brews up a delicate golden-jade that is clear and brilliant. I see this tea as a Diva because it reminds me of the great jazz singers of the 20th century. The aroma is harmonically rich and dense with big sweet tones - this year it has intense notes of stone fruit and mango with sweet tones of orchid dancing on top - plus it pulls off a sultry, buttery mouthfeel with refinement and taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitial taste is sweet like sugarcane and is followed by an aromatic aftertaste that blooms in the mouth and into the sinuses with the fruity-florality of honey, then trails off with a honeysuckle refrain. The tail end has this wonderful feeling of pulsating, like the aftertaste comes in waves. Incredible tea making this year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's a romance to it; the tones are more saturated than our other light-footed and airy high mountain teas. In that sense it's probably the most flavorful of our lineup this year. If you're looking for a tea that can really belt it out, this is a good choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Smangus, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : \u003cspan\u003e Sustainable, From a garden regularly tested by SGS as having 0% pesticide residues\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1600 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39740189180111,"sku":"","price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39740189212879,"sku":"","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/diva.jpg?v=1750578333"},{"product_id":"purple-leaf-red-oolong","title":"Wild Purple Leaf Red Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is super unique tea. These tea bushes are 'wild' in two ways : One, they are a wild Taiwanese species of tea also known as Camellia formosensis. They are not Camellia sinensis. Two, they are 'feral' bushes -- the word commonly used in Taiwan is Yefang, which means they were planted by someone, but after that were left to their own devices, never getting any kind of modern agricultural treatment whether organic or conventional, not even fertilizer. This means they have to grow deep roots and take nutrients from deep in the earth, giving them a natural strength beyond what average tea bushes have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese bushes also have a genetic mutation that makes them produce purple tips as you can see if you scroll through our product photos. The purple color comes from anthocyanins, the same pigments that give berries, grapes and other purple and blue fruit and vegetables their deep colors. In this case, the purple pigment gives the tea an incredibly unique floral taste that I've otherwise only ever tasted in Creme de Violette, a violet flower infused liqueur. So I guess it’s fair to say this tea tastes like violets! This Winter harvest version has a distinctive herbal medicine note to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe broth however is deep, round and sweet with a big red oolong taste. Very full in the mouth, and goes for many infusions. Smooth like velvet. It has a strong Cha Qi I can feel gently circulating my blood, and feels warm and comforting in my belly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Shan Lin Xi, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : November 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Purple Bud Taiwan Wild Tea (Camellia formosensis)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Feral (Yefang) - untended, no agrochemicals used\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39924916748495,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":39924916781263,"sku":"","price":40.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/wild_purple.jpg?v=1769210780"},{"product_id":"discounted-farmers-choice-baozhong","title":"Farmer's Choice Baozhong 2025 Winter","description":"\u003cp\u003eBaozhong is fragrant, open leaf oolong on the green side of the spectrum. Leaves are long and spindly. Our Farmer's Choice version is made with an old fashioned cultivar called 'Man Zhong' that has a unique fruity-savory taste, and is oxidized a bit more than its \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/floatingleaves.mom\/collections\/baozhong\/products\/seasonal-competition-baozhong\"\u003eCompetition Style\u003c\/a\u003e counterpart. It was one of the dominant Baozhong cultivars before the popularity of high mountain brought Qing Xin Oolong to the North of the island. Man Zhong's notes are more the realm of fruit (rather than the bright flowery bouquet of prize seeking Baozhong) and it is also considered a better option for aging.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Baozhong is made by the Chen family in Pinling, with whom we've had a long relationship that has now followed them into the second generation of tea makers. We have been working with them since 2005. Master Chen, the patriarch, was born into a family of rice farmers and switched to tea when he was 17. He is a delightful, hard working and upbeat man. His son inherited his optimism, his good nature and his curious mind. Their family does every step of the processing in house (instead of outsourcing as is common practice).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFarmer's Choice is a bold, big boned tea with a fresh, springy profile. Last year the tea was toasted a little more which gave it a bit more of an earthy quality, but this year we decided to go a bit lighter to retain more of its bright fruity tones and refreshing feel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColor is golden, and aroma has hints of pineapple and sweet zucchini. Broth is impactful in a rustic sort of way that we find very satisfying. This tea has a special place in our hearts, as it reminds us of the lush vegetation and sultry weather of Pinglin. It also has some power behind it, and tends to age well - usually tasting even better 6 months to a year after the harvest date. It’s forgiving to brew, and works just as well grandpa style or ‘Western style’ as it does gongfu style.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : Nov, 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Man Zhong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":41846729474255,"sku":"","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":41846729507023,"sku":"","price":23.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/farmers_bz.jpg?v=1719018991"},{"product_id":"special-reserve-oriental-beauty","title":"Special Grade Oriental Beauty","description":"\u003cp\u003eSo... There's Oriental Beauty, and then there's Oriental Beauty. This is the real deal, from the original home of \"Peng Feng\" (Braggart's) Tea in Beipu. The aroma is soft, delicate and exquisite. Full of a quiet depth. A feminine oolong tea that shows how this style of tea became donned a Beauty in the first place. This batch is 'Special Grade' rather than 'Special Reserve' because it is not aged for three years as the previous tea was. However, we got it from the same maker, and it has a similarly elegant feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVelvet soft broth is at once light bodied and full. This one is thick even, but not heavy. Gentle and elegant with a juicy, fruity aroma and plentiful muscatel bug bitten taste. Excellent opening feeling in the mouth that leads to a soothing salivating aftertaste. It gives many infusions with lots of dynamic change throughout a gongfu session, leading to a supremely satisfying experience. We love this classy, balanced Oriental Beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote : This is the only oolong on our menu that we prefer to brew with slightly lower than boiling temps. Not too cool, around 195 F seems to be the sweet spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocation : Beipu, Hsinchu County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest : 2025 June\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin Da Pa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnsprayed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":42832687169743,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":42832687202511,"sku":null,"price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/spec_OB_25.jpg?v=1761362103"},{"product_id":"1st-place-competition-winning-baozhong-2023-winter","title":"Flower Power Baozhong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA sunshiny, happy tea. Its floral fragrance is big and unrestrained. This year's oxidation is just right, not too green, but with a broth that is still a jade \u003cem\u003ejust \u003c\/em\u003etinged with gold. Exceptionally sweet with a big, loveable honeysuckle note in the forefront and highlights of almondy marzipan. I’m also able to detect a pineapple fruitiness and freshly steamed spring greens. Mouthfeel is extra creamy this year with a light but expansive body that reaches to the throat nicely. Tasty returning sweetness and floral aftertaste. In the later infusions the broth becomes almost effervescent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been working with the Chen family for years. They provide us with Farmer's Choice Baozhong. They also used to make our Competition Style Baozhong up until a few years ago. Due to pressure from competition judges to move into greener and greener territory, we began to find their competition baozhong a bit hard on the stomach and thin, albeit with plentiful zippy aroma. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, a couple years ago now Mrs. Chen recommended to her son that he try a bit more old fashioned approach and oxidize the tea longer. This experimental batch was a challenge to Chen junior, as he knew it would not stand a chance in competitions (broth is more gold than jade, and lacks the snappy green bean aroma of modern winning teas). However, when she tasted the result Mrs. Chen knew her clientele would be fighting over this crop of tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTowards the end of an afternoon of tasting many greener teas that we didn't find appealing, Mrs. Chen finally brought out this sweet floral tea that was intended for another customer. It was love at first taste, and we snagged the whole bag! It tastes more like Baozhong we remember from 10-15 years ago, with a sweet round broth and distinctively floral (not marzipan or green bean) aroma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lighthearted, happy tea that is sweet like flowers and extremely quaffable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":43221115633871,"sku":"","price":9.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":43221115666639,"sku":"","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/flowerbz.jpg?v=1718233451"},{"product_id":"fragrant-dong-ding-2024-winter","title":"Fragrant Dong Ding 2026 Spring","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eStory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eOur Fragrant Dong Ding is lightly oxidized and rolled in the style of high mountain oolong. It is harvested from the Qingxin cultivar near the Dong Ding area of Nantou county. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFloral and young fruit tones with a distinctive sweet almond aroma. Light-medium bodied broth is zippy and refreshing. This tea feels a lot like high mountain oolong, just not as delicate or complex because the elevation isn't high enough. However we still think of it as our value high mountain oolong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFacts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Zhushan, Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44055308533967,"sku":null,"price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44055308566735,"sku":null,"price":22.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/IMG_5541.jpg?v=1702685649"},{"product_id":"jin-xuan-2024-winter","title":"Jin Xuan 2025 Winter","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis broth is milky with a sweet scent. Green style oolong processing yields a light body and flavor. Straightforward daily drinker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cultivar, Jin Xuan (Taiwan Tea #12), was cross bred in Taiwan in the 80's. It has become popular across Asia for it's high yield and natural milky taste. This is the original Milk Oolong, without any artificial flavoring added.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : Winter 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Jin Xuan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"75g","offer_id":44055310631119,"sku":"","price":14.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/IMG_5429.jpg?v=1685158149"},{"product_id":"secret-garden-alishan-high-mountain-2024-winter","title":"Secret Garden Alishan High Mountain 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eColor is a light, clear jade that continues throughout the infusions. Starts off in the first infusion with a oceanic salty tone, and the sweetness of sugarcane slowly takes over as the main tone starting in the second infusion. Aroma is a delicate dance between understated honeysuckle and proud orchid, the classic elegant beauty of Secret Garden leading in the highest register. It really does feel like taking a rest in a secret corner of your personal little garden when the flowers are in bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are continuously so impressed with this farmer. When we reached out in April when Alishan usually finishes harvesting, he told us the weather was not ideal so he didn't pick at peak harvest (for quantity). He was concerned he couldn't make the kind of tea he believes in at that time due to draught. So he waited. We were worried we wouldn't get a Secret Garden this season. However, in the first week of May he reached out again and told us the leaves that were tiny and sprouting out during the dry early April tea season were just now maturing. He worked his magic, and although it has a different presentation than his usual lineup, he was able to pull off a tea that feels really good in our bodies even with weather that was not cooperative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result? It is fragrant with bright floral tones and sugarcane in the base. It is overall a quieter, more meditative tea. Where it falls short is only in ultimate richness and refinement. Broth is not as oily or thick as usual due to the later harvest date, and this is reflected in the price. It is however still up in our favorites of the season from any mountain, even though Alishan in particular got hit hard by dry weather. This man's skill and integrity just floors us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you love Secret Garden in the past, I think you will love this tea. We do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFacts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Alishan, Chiayi County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1400 Meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44062864244943,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44062864277711,"sku":"","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/secretgardenwi25.jpg?v=1763769575"},{"product_id":"competition-baozhong-2024-winter","title":"Competition Baozhong 2025 Winter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBaozhong is an open leaf oolong tea, the greenest produced in Taiwan. The leaves are long, spindly and deep forest green. Baozhong is beloved in Taiwan for its fragrance. I always feel that good Baozhong has a note like fresh snappy beans from the garden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDry leaves have a bright jade color, and give off a fresh, snappy aroma when they hit hot porcelain. Garden fresh snappy beans and little white flowers make up the bright pop of aroma. Empty cup scent is powdery and sweet. Broth is zippy and agile on the tongue with an elegant development that reaches the back of the mouth with a subtle slight bitterness and blooms outward with substantial floral aftertaste. Bright and shimmering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike the more intricate florals of high mountain oolong, Baozhong cuts through with a brilliant scent that is more direct. If you have ever been into Jasmine tea and look for oolong with a floral scent, you should consider this tea. Also quite popular with folks who enjoy Fujianese green style Tie Guanyin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : Nov, 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44072371781839,"sku":"","price":8.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44072371814607,"sku":"","price":24.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/competition_BZ_winter_24.jpg?v=1732497873"},{"product_id":"sweet-cream-alishan-high-mountain-2024-winter","title":"Sweet Cream Alishan High Mountain 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea reminds me of why I fell in love with Alishan. The adorable milk candy aroma endears itself to you while the brighter floral notes give it a lively feeling like it's dancing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBroth is full, round and creamy. A fullness reaches deep into the throat and settles into the belly. Throaty aftertaste is prominent, an effect of its more traditional processing style. Leaves have a nice, thin red ring around the perimeter and broth is a nice bright golden color. In other words, excellent oolong processing skill. Leaves are also picked at the goldilocks stage for this tea, just on the tender side of fully mature, where the smaller top leaf is just fully open, leading to a smooth laid back tea free from grassy tastes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis farmer's quantity has been low these past few seasons, and this Spring we only got 1\/3 of what we had in Spring 2025. In the Winter of the same year we didn't get any. If you're a big fan of Sweet Cream, make sure to jump on it early.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Alishan, Chiayi County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1250 Meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44113014423759,"sku":null,"price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44113014456527,"sku":"","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/sweetAli24Sp.jpg?v=1714933903"},{"product_id":"333-shan-lin-xi-high-mountain-oolong-2024-winter","title":"\"333\" Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe tea is from a very special garden in the San Ceng Ping area of Shan Lin Xi, the 3rd highest growing area in that region at about 1800 meters above sea-level. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the first time we've gotten a Spring batch of 333. It has the same exquisite internal development and soft power that for us defines the beauty of this garden. However the flavor of the season gives it a youthful flair. It is more spritely and agile. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI love the way the aroma develops, it gives me a feeling as if you realize there is something more than what you are seeing with your eyes, but you can't make it out clearly enough to actually define it. It encourages me to explore the edges of my senses, like smelling shapes and colors. But externally it is delicate and clear like a fresh mountain spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe power that feels so internal like a spring full of potential energy in the aroma and taste realizes itself fully in the body. This tea has a potent qi in the body that I feel as a warmth in my belly which continues outward. It has a 'filling' feel in the head as well as the body. It reaches into my sinus, behind my eyes and to the top of my head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe feel this tea starts strong, and actually improves as the infusions go on. Today the fifth infusion was my favorite, the tea felt relaxed and at the same time full and soothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : San Ceng Ping, Shan Lin Xi, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May 2026\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1800 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44130923872463,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44130923905231,"sku":null,"price":37.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/333_roasted.jpg?v=1756937158"},{"product_id":"satin-doll-high-mountain-oolong-2025-spring","title":"Jade Peak High Mountain Oolong 2025 Winter","description":"\u003cp\u003eDry leaves give off a powdery floral scent even before they are warmed. Brewed, the tea broth is a pale jade color. This tea is oxidized quite light, but the teamaker managed to achieve a 'clear aroma', skillfully removing the grassy green taste of raw tea and leaving behind an unfettered sweetness. Aroma is sparkly with energy concentrated in the higher register : delicate creamy florals like gardenia seem to play the main role with a bit of grapefruit sharpness playing the harmony. There's a warmer note holding it down, not super low but faintly woody. I'm calling it vanilla. Maybe a hint of piney-ness. Cane sugar sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBroth is light bodied and easy to drink, round and smooth. Taste has a gentle fruitiness, like the essence of Asian pear. The floral tones come back in the aftertaste and linger in the throat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA crystalline, delicate and dainty tea that is easy to love. Uplifting and delightful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(Photo is wrong, I will update it soon)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Cui Feng (Hehuan Shan), Ren Ai Township, Nantou County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : November 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : \u003cspan\u003e Conventional\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1800 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44348990456015,"sku":"","price":11.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44348990488783,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/IMG_5523.jpg?v=1701911284"},{"product_id":"alishan-black-2025","title":"Alishan Black *Winter Sprout*","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough we've used the name Alishan \u003cem\u003eBlack\u003c\/em\u003e for years this is more accurately a Red Oolong - that means it is a kind of hybrid processing of black (or red) tea and oolong tea that results in the full, dark and sweet flavors of red tea arranged in an oolong type of profile. The fragrance is more complex and the mouthfeel more oolong-shaped. On top of that, this is in the Taiwanese tea category of 'honey fragrant' (Mi Xiang) red oolong, meaning it has a unique aroma of honey like Taiwanese bug bitten teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Alishan Black is an extremely fragrant tea, with notes ranging from tropical and stone fruit (peach, longyan) to sweet honey to rich carmalized flavors. A bit malty with a juicy texture. It is a big and flavorful fun tea that is grabs the attention of new oolong drinkers immediately. That's not to say old tea heads aren't drinking it though, some of our oldest customers drink this tea daily. Kind of desert like, we like to drink it after a meal to satisfy our sweet tooth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis batch was a rare 'winter sprout' (Dong Pian) harvest, a tiny quantity of leaves that some years will sprout during the colder months - December or sometimes early January. The cold weather slows growth so that the leaves collect lots of extra nutrients and produce special high notes. This gives the tea a lighter body and unique aroma that you just have to taste for yourself - it tastes like winter sprout! Twist my arm, there is just so much honey flavor in this batch, but a kind of herbal version like a late Autumn fireweed honey we once tasted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt recently underwent it's final processing steps, and we have found the body was 'closed up' when it first arrived in Seattle. In the last three weeks it's opened up a lot, and we predict it will continue to do so. I think it's fair to say you can expect it will only improve with age!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Alishan, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : December, 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44560133914831,"sku":null,"price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44560133947599,"sku":null,"price":23.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/2023dongpianAliBlack.jpg?v=1710543503"},{"product_id":"86k-high-mountain-oolong-2025-winter","title":"86K High Mountain Oolong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eRefined, lush and aromatically complex, this tea hails from Fushou Shan. Fushoushan and Dayuling are the two highest elevation tea growing regions in the Lishan range. Although Da Yu Ling can be fantastic, it is also unpredictable, and we find that Fushou teas are generally more consistently excellent year over year. This tea we named 86K because that is how they break up these super high elevation gardens in Fushou and Dayuling : the kilometer marker on the Central Cross-Island Highway. Before about 90K is considered Fushou Shan these days, and after is Dayuling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow is what I wrote about the Winter batch. This Spring tea is also from the same garden, and is also absolutely fantastic. It can similarly be described as a princess. Majestic, charming, proud and elegant. Notes also hover around pomelo with lots of pristine little tinkling flower notes. What I would say is different is it leans a bit more luscious and effusive - the taste of Spring! The tea just arrived on the plane from Taiwan, and we wanted to get it published by our promised release date but I will come back to write a more in depth review soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt took me many attempts before I felt like I was ready to write the description for this tea. It is incredibly detailed but also reserved. I had to ask it nicely to come out and play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven from the first time I drank it when the sample arrived in a state of 'jet-lag', I could tell it was a luxurious tea with a lot going on underneath the surface. Broth is absolutely fantastic.. Not just plush and soft (the word velvet comes to mind), but lots of little tiny details as the tannins dance around the mouth. It reaches back to the throat and leaves behind an elegant lingering sweetness. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aroma is high and pronounced, dense even, but doesn't scream out to be heard. The most clear note I get is pine, and there's a pomelo citrus note and milk candy down below that. But upon deeper observation layers and layers reveal themselves, although they are fleeting and for me evade exact description. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is like a princess. Majestic and proud and refined. Lots of nuances that I feel I'm just beginning to pick up on. It is sensitive, and has taken the longest time to open up of all the winter teas we've chosen this year. I'm looking forward to spending the next few months exploring this tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Lishan, Taichung County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 2200-2400 Meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44720346661071,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44720346693839,"sku":null,"price":53.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/fushou25winter.jpg?v=1765577658"},{"product_id":"bug-bitten-dong-ding","title":"Bug Bitten Dong Ding","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen I was roasting this tea, I intended to make a batch of Noah's Dong Ding. However, my roaster shorted out and the fuse blew right when I went to turn the temperature up - so I had to fix it and wait for another day to do the roast. I was pretty irritated in the moment. However, a couple days later when I went to taste the product of that accident in order to decide the best course of action, it surprised me with the fragrant, rich honey taste of bug bitten tea!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI decided to finish this tea with a quick, light roast to maintain those tasty bug bitten notes. It ended up with a warming spice note almost like nutmeg which melds with the honey-muscat grape of the bug bitten flavor very nicely. It has a fat, bold mouth filling broth. Big tea! It might be too dramatic to call it ferocious, but it's certainly a powerful tea in aroma, mouthfeel and energy. It is also the lightest roast of any traditionally processed Dong Ding oolong that we've ever sold, so it should be a fun comparison for people that are familiar with our Dong Ding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBug bitten Dong Ding oolong is sometimes called Gui Fei Mei Ren - a play on Dong Fang Mei Ren (Oriental Beauty) that means Concubine Beauty. I don't much like the name, so we've decided to just call it what it is. Nowadays enough people know what bug bitten means in an oolong tea context that we don't have to worry that customers think they're getting a defective product! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea has been resting for months since the original roast date, and is drinking very nicely now. A bold powerhouse of a bug bitten oolong tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFacts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Dong Ding, Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoast Date : 2025 Nov\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Soft Stem [Ruan Zhi Wu Long]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming : From a garden regularly tested by SGS as having 0% pesticide residues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePodcast Episode\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"100%\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/media\/player\/vv2pp-c217b6?from=usersite\u0026amp;skin=1\u0026amp;share=1\u0026amp;fonts=Helvetica\u0026amp;auto=0\u0026amp;download=1\u0026amp;version=1\" title=\"Stories from Dong Ding Plateau\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44931778183375,"sku":null,"price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"75g","offer_id":44931778216143,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/gui_fei.jpg?v=1774389368"},{"product_id":"shan-lin-xi-high-mountain-2026-spring","title":"Shan Lin Xi High Mountain 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe first thing I noticed with this tea is the slick, mineral mouthfeel. It slips and slides around the mouth leaving behind an impression of 'rock-milk' that I feel is unique to Shan Lin Xi tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAroma is piney-grapefruit in the high notes with a sweet, mellow fruit like pear in the mids and what I really taste as honey to round it out in the lower register.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also has a verdant piquancy that gives it a muscley feel but still somehow manages to maintain smoothness overall. I think this combination of traits is what makes Shan Lin Xi completely unique among high mountain growing regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI've been thinking for years on how exactly to describe in words what I've come to love so much about Shan Lin Xi teas in particular. I've come to use the word 'athletic' which I think really captures the feel of the tea itself - it's zippy, fast moving, mineral slippery broth - but not quite how we relate to it as drinkers. The word just came to me though : invigorating. It gives an uplifting, powerful energy. While you may choose Lishan tea for a wispy, poetic or even meditative experience, and Alishan tea for an adorable, sweet and familiar session, Shan Lin Xi tea is just plain \u003cem\u003evigorous \u003c\/em\u003ein a way that other high mountain teas aren't. After or before a good workout, on a break during a long study session, taking a moment to rest on a road trip - I think Shan Lin Xi holds a unique advantage over the other high mountains in these scenarios.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnyway, I'm really enjoying this one on a hot, muggy Taiwanese day. I hope you will love it as much as I do!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFacts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Shan Lin Xi, Nantou, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Sustainable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1500 Meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45044686454991,"sku":null,"price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":45044686487759,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/winterSLX.jpg?v=1732240964"},{"product_id":"smooth-water-baozhong-2026-spring","title":"Smooth Water Baozhong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea is soft and comforting, smooth as velvet and deeply refreshing. Broth color is a soft jade, and is overflowing with aromatic tones of honeysuckle and fresh snappy beans. The evaporating scent on the bottom of the empty cup is even more complex, giving an image of a dewy garden in Spring full of fresh flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea also has reach, providing an open and relaxed feeling in the throat after the swallow and a clear headed floral aroma behind the eyes. Feels gentle and caressing all the way to the belly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is from Pinglin, but we decided that even so it deserved to inherit the name of Smooth Water Baozhong. Although it is a spiritual successor of our old favorite, I think it actually surpasses the original Smooth Water for both depth and staying power. I was able to easily get five infusions out of this tea, and could probably go for more when I don't have the time constraints of writing tea descriptions looming. This is all due to the immaculate, sustainable tea garden management employed by this farmer. These are healthy, strong plants that, when combined with expert, painstaking processing are able to go beyond what the market has been primed to expect from Baozhong. We feel blessed to be able to carry teas like this.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45044686586063,"sku":null,"price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":45044686618831,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/competition_BZ_winter_24.jpg?v=1732497873"},{"product_id":"alpine-baozhong-2026-spring","title":"Alpine Baozhong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eIncredible aromatic complexity and intensity. Good Baozhong does this beautiful thing in the fragrance department that no rolled oolong can quite compete with. This one, being grown further up in the mountains of Pinglin, has some of the complexity and creaminess of high mountain oolong with that blow-you-away-with-fresh-fragrance of Baozhong. Pretty spectacular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAftertaste sticks to the back of the throat with a dense, oily mouthfeel feel and evaporates scent into the mouth. Thick savory broth with a creamy feel on the tongue. Drinks like a thirst quencher tea but also like a rich umami broth, something like a good dashi but with aromatics of flowers and a tiny bit of almondy marzipan. Like a mountain breeze, it is perfectly refreshing on a hot day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're a die-hard high mountain fan but want to get into the superior fragrance that baozhong can offer, this is a good entry point. If you're into Baozhong but want to play with something a little fancier, this is an excellent option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd if you are an all around lover of good tea and you just want to drink a killer fresh oolong tea, this is a perfect choice! I fall into the latter camp ;)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : April, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Conventional\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45044686651599,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"75g","offer_id":45044686684367,"sku":null,"price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/competition_BZ_winter_24.jpg?v=1732497873"},{"product_id":"forest-sprite-high-mountain-oolong-2026-spring","title":"Forest Sprite High Mountain Oolong 2026 Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea is grown by a father and son team near Smangus, a remote village in Northern Taiwan known for virgin old growth forests and ancient cypress trees.  They are indigenous Atayal people who were born and raised on the mountain. This garden is about 1800m in elevation, higher up the mountain from where our Diva is harvested. Their family planted this garden amongst a forest grove high up in the mountain. It is incredibly rich in biodiversity, and you can taste it. The tea plants get no help from modern agricultural chemicals, so must defend themselves and reach deep into the earth for nutrients. The plants are therefore strong and resilient, and offer some special qualities due to this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves are thicker than you may be used to, and yield an exceptionally viscous broth. Broth brews up a deep jade color and has a visibly gel like texture that holds bubbles for an extra long time. The aroma is hard to describe. It is 'planty', kind of like the fresh, calming mossy smell you can notice when walking through a cool forest. It still clearly has the bright singing florality and sweet fruity aroma of good high mountain oolong, but it spends less time on those 'food' type of notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea feels clear and open with a density and richness in the broth that is indisputably buttery. Definite sugarcane sweetness and enticing, almost spicy-herbal returning aroma lingers for a long time. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause of the life it lived, this is a tea that starts off a little slow but continues to unfold over many \u003cem\u003emany \u003c\/em\u003einfusions. Don't judge it on the first or even second infusion. Three is tasty and around four or five it really starts coming into its own. The reason is the thick, wild grown leaves which take time to penetrate with hot water and extract their deeper goodness. So don't be too rushed to finish a session with this tea. I think it would be a shame to run it through any less than eight infusions, and even ten seems to be an easy target. If you don't have that kind of time, perhaps letting the already brewed leaves continue to cold brew in a pitcher in the fridge would be a good idea. It has a lot to give.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote : Photo is winter Diva. I will update with new photo soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFacts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Location : Smangus, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest Date : May 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultivar : Qing Xin Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarming Method : Unsprayed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAltitude : 1800 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Floating Leaves US","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45168027959503,"sku":null,"price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"75g","offer_id":45168027992271,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/0455\/0607\/files\/diva.jpg?v=1750578333"}],"url":"https:\/\/floatingleaves.mom\/collections\/oolong.oembed","provider":"Floating Leaves Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}