{"title":"Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eOolongs are semi-oxidized teas made from fresh leaves that were intentionally bruised so they react with oxygen. How this bruising is done, where the leaves are from, and how they are processed separates oolong into several categories.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"baiya-qilan-oolong","title":"Semi Wild Baiya Qilan","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe buds of Baiya Qilan trees famously give off the scent of orchids, and are such a pale green, they appear white. The varietal was named during the Ming Dynasty by Chen Yuanhe, son of the emperor, who was amazed to find these unique trees growing deep within the mountains of Fujian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaiya Qilan's remote origin has meant that its cultivation and crafting has not been influenced by popular tastes that influence present day tea production. This one, crafted by tea veteran Chen Huoping, is a perfect example. A native to Pengxi Village, Chen once worked in the research department of the Pengxi County Tea Company, before devoting himself to crafting tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we visited Chen at his family home he wanted us to see his highest elevation tea gardens, but on account of the heavy rain that day we never made it. There are no roads for cars or motorcycles to these tea gardens, and the hills are very steep to climb on foot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from semi-wild trees that grow slightly lower, at 2,200 ft elevation. Chen explained that, as he got older, he gave up on making \"uninteresting tea.\" For him this meant combining the traditional hand-picking of wild leaves, manual bruising, hand rolling, and slow roasting over lychee charcoal. When crafting tea this way the cost is much higher, and the yield is lower, but this, he says, is what makes it interesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have to agree with Chen; this is a very captivating oolong. The leaves thicken the water, causing its soft, floral fragrance to spread slowly and evenly across the palate. Its very distinct orchid notes are complimented by a complex minerality that gives way to a sweet, sustained aftertaste. It slows our enjoyment of it, and offers much to consider.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":28131632742505,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":28138385703017,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32100907614313,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18277_WEB_5d755f7e-3a71-4f20-bd9d-2bb0ba50f361.jpg?v=1774101053"},{"product_id":"golden-cassia","title":"Golden Cassia","description":"\u003cp\u003eTogether with Tieguanyin (Iron Goddess of Mercy), Maoxie, Meizhan, and Buddha's Hand, Golden Cassia is one of the key indigenous varietals of oolong in Southern Fujian. Anxi is a mountainous region: there are 2943 mountain peaks here that measure above over 3000 ft in elevation, and tea cultivation here dates back more than two thousand years, to the Northern Song Dynasty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnxi's subtropical marine climate brings temperate weather across all seasons and consistent precipitation, ideal for tea trees. The lateritic red soil here, formed by the weathering of the dense rocky terrain, is also very well suited for the growth of tea trees, and is extremely high in minerals like iron and aluminum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeizhuang Village in Anxi, Fujian is one of three villages where Golden Cassia originates from. Its fresh buds are tinted yellow, and the trees are known for their osmanthus-like fragrance. The Chinese name for Golden Cassia is 黄金桂. The first character means \"yellow,\" the second \"gold,\" and the third, \"osmanthus.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether or not you are familiar with this varietal will depend on where you live. It has long been most common for Golden Cassia from Meizhuang Village to be exported to Japanese and Southeast Asian markets, and is much less common elsewhere in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Golden Cassia is crafted by Master Lin Zhenwen, a generational tea farmer of Meizhuang Village. He is one of the few \"old masters\" in the village, known for having the highest skill at crafting oolong. Master Lin crafts his Golden Cassia using the traditional regional method: the tea sees 4 rounds of \"yaoqing,\" (bruising) followed by slow-fired charcoal roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is beautiful to watch the leaves open in the gaiwan, like crumpled pages that tell the story of their making: they are marked with varying colours by the bruising process, and creased by the constriction that came from their roasting. This oolong has a deep, warm and floral fragrance while its taste is gentle and sweet. It is enveloping, while still being very light on the palate.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103940358249,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103940391017,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103940456553,"sku":"","price":78.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/goldencassia.jpg?v=1774101329"},{"product_id":"lingtou-bai-ye","title":"Old Tree Baiye Red","description":"\u003cp\u003eLingtou Baiye is a highly regarded and well known varietal of Phoenix oolong. \"Lingtou\" is the name of the village where the varietal originated from, and \"Baiye\" translates to \"white leaf.\" Lingtou Village on Shuangbinniang Mountain has been cultivating the Baiye varietal since the 1960's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe earliest classification of Phoenix oolongs only distinguished between 白叶 Baiye (white leaf) or 乌叶 Wuye (dark leaf), depending on what color of the fresh leaves were when they sprouted from the tree. Further classification of Phoenix oolongs, by their aroma, came later. After land reforms in the 1950's, tea trees in this region were assigned to individual tea farmers, and many of them gave unusual and secret names to the trees they had been assigned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Old Tree Baiye Red is a Phoenix \"Dancong\" oolong from the mountains of Raoping County in the city of Chaozhou. It comes from a small biodynamic tea farm in Lingtou village, within Raoping County. This is a well known place in these mountains: particularly charming, with a wealth of lychee, longan and pineapple trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo craft this tea freshly picked leaves are first withered indoors on woven bamboo mats for around 10 hours. The leaves are then tossed and bruised to ensure even oxidation. This process lasts about 2 days, allowing the slowly oxidizing leaves to develop complex flavour. Finally, the tea is roasted at low temperatures over lychee charcoal, evoking its innate fruitiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a delicious tea, and its sweetness is complex, like transformed fruit. In the first several infusions it has notes of lychee, roasted sweet potato and molasses. In later infusions it tastes like sakura, with lingering notes of ripe mangoes and dried longan. These discrete flavours are dynamic and ever-changing, adding to how enchanting this Old Tree Baiye is.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103920402537,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103920435305,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103920468073,"sku":"","price":96.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/oldtreebaiyered.jpg?v=1774101874"},{"product_id":"black-oolong","title":"Black Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eTea master Lin Zhengwen made this tea based on memories of a hybrid oolong he had tried in the 1980's called \"Red Water.\" Since 2017 he has been committed to crafting a modern version of that tea, calling it Black Oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrafting this tea follows every step for traditional Fujian oolong, but deviates slightly. The tea leaves are shaken and bruised more vigorously than usual, and are allowed to oxidize more than an oolong usually would be, leaning towards the oxidation level of a black tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLin Zhengwen makes this tea with Golden Cassia leaves harvested from his high elevation tea farm in Anxi. After the leaves are oxidized, they are roasted over charcoal. This batch underwent two rounds of charcoal roasting, with the second round taking place after the tea had been aged for 2 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the time the tea is finished the leaves are pitch black. They smell toasty and metallic in the gaiwan. Their long oxidization has brought out tannins that give the liquor impressive structure, offsetting the viscous minerality of the Golden Cassia varietal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially, its taste strikes us as a very deep and roasty oolong, but it finishes with the distinct caramelized sweetness of a black tea. This is a tasty, fascinating and very soothing tea. Its simultaneous ability to comfort and clarify is well suited to the transition from summer to autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32100918526057,"sku":"","price":26.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32100918558825,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32100918591593,"sku":"","price":96.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_19003_WEB.jpg?v=1774038236"},{"product_id":"tieluohan","title":"Tieluohan","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Half-Cliff Tieluohan comes from Xingcun, or \"Star Village,\" an ancient village located in the Wuyi City area, about a 20 minute drive southwest from the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve. Xingcun has a long history, as it has been a center for the distribution of teas from the Wuyi region since ancient times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTieluohan is one of the four most prestigious varietals of Wuyi rock tea. Amongst the Wuyi Cliff oolong varietals, it is famous for its rich and smooth mouthfeel. This one comes from an area within Xingcun called Caodun, known for its ecological tea farms and regenerative farming practices. The tea farm is located at 1600 ft elevation, and due to its relatively high location, experiences more clouds, mist and also sunshine than most of the Wuyi area, (it averages around 7-8 hours of sunshine per day, which is almost double the amount of most Wuyi rock teas!).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is crafted by a younger artisan, Fan Zhiqiang. Fan is a generational resident of Xingcun village. As a child, he watched his parents and grandparents trade and sell Wuyi Mountain teas. With this connection, he expresses a great love and passion for the landscape and the traditional teas that his hometown offers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a rich and satisfying tieluohan. It has dense, chocolate-like qualities that sit heavy and round on the palate. Through infusions its incredible mineral structure emerges, lifting this flavour upwards into the mid-palate. It remains smooth, sweet, and saliva-producing through many infusions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103855226985,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103855259753,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103855292521,"sku":"","price":110.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/tieluohan1.jpg?v=1774038385"},{"product_id":"organic-shui-xian-oolong","title":"Organic Shuixian","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis organic Shuixian comes from Xingcun or \"Star Village,\" an ancient village located in the Wuyi City area, about a 20 minute drive southwest from the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eXingcun has a long history, having been a center for the distribution of teas from the Wuyi region since ancient times. This Shuixian comes from a newer farm that has been practicing organic and regenerative farming methods for the past 18 years. It is crafted by Fan Zhiqiang, a generational resident of Xingcun, and a younger tea artisan who is passionate about his village's historical relationship with tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFan crafts his Shuixian traditionally, first oxidizing it, then roasting it over charcoal in 4 rounds, creating an excellent showcase, both of the Shuixian varietal and of regional techniques. The tea leaves are of very high quality, the oxidation is just right, and the roasting is not overpowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe taste of this Shuixian is clear and clean. The flavours of oxidation appear first, and give way to characteristics from the roasting. This tea offers us a very precise experience of cliff oolong. It is simple and direct, which makes it excellent for comparative or everyday drinking.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103878688873,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103878721641,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103878754409,"sku":"","price":98.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/organicshuixian.jpg?v=1774038345"},{"product_id":"true-cliff-dahong-pao","title":"Dahongpao Jade Lion Cliff 2014","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis True Cliff yancha is a blend of three varietals: Rougui, Shuixian and Meizhan. Its name, \"Dahongpao,\" or \"Big Red Robe\" is a reference to a famous story that describes how Wuyi Mountain teas became protected tribute teas for emperors. It reminds us of the 6 original mother trees in this region, which were once cloaked in red robes at the request of the emperor, so that they would be cared for like an extension of his family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \"Dahongpao\" is an experimental tea, crafted to reference what the tea of Big Red Robe might taste like. While no one is allowed to harvest leaves from the original mother trees anymore, this tea comes by its name honestly: the artisan who crafts it is named Dahongpao, after original Wuyi Rock tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe modeled this tea after what people imagine Dahongpao would have tasted like almost a thousand years ago. It is True Cliff, from Qingshiyan, or \"Jade Lion Cliff,\" inside the boundaries of Wuyi Nature Reserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQingshiyan (Jade Lion Cliff) is situated close to Shuiliandong (Water Curtain Cave). Its name reflects the shape of the Cliff, which looks like a crouching lion. The tea trees of Qingshiyan are shaded by bamboo trees and surrounded by a high diversity of flora and fauna. A stream flows continuously at Qingshiyan, throughout every season. The water accumulates at the bottom of the cliff, forming a small pool that is always present, whether it is winter or summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe craftsmanship of this tea acknowledges a generational understanding of what constitutes an excellent True Cliff oolong. The quality of the three teas used in this tea, as well as this experiment in cultural memory, make this yancha particularly captivating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is explosive on the palate, as the complexity of all three varietals come forward at once. Its exponential mineral notes wake up the senses, acting a bit like sake kasu or umami in that it makes us taste \u003cem\u003emore\u003c\/em\u003e. This opening and expanding quality is true for the energy of the tea as well: it has an extroverting effect, and one that broadens our awareness of what surrounds us. There is great imagination in this Rock Oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32102739640425,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32102739673193,"sku":"","price":185.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/dahongpao_e0ee756a-a6dd-4b2f-b80e-25ef6145eed1.jpg?v=1782428379"},{"product_id":"song-zhong-pheonix-oolong","title":"Da'an Song Zhong","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe are very fortunate to be able to offer this beautiful Songzhong from Da'an Village of the legendary Wudong Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDa'an Village sits at 3,000 ft elevation, deep within the Wudong Mountains and central to an area widely regarded as the most prestigious origin for Phoenix oolongs. The name \"Da'an'' means \"Great Monastery,\" a reference to the ancient Taiping temple built here during the Qing Dynasty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn account of the tea-appreciating Buddhist monks that inhabited Taiping, Da'an is home to the \"mother trees\" of many varietals of Phoenix oolongs that the monks planted around their temple. The mother tree of this varietal – Songzhong – lives here, and is now at least 400 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is understandably difficult to source tea from such a highly sought after region, especially ones made from older trees. This tea was personally sourced by Cultivate's tea mentor who has nurtured relationships in the region. In this tea, they explained to us, the unique terroir of Wudong, the impressive age of the trees, and highly skilled craftsmanship combine to create an outstanding example of the Song cultivar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTasting this tea, we see how these factors have synthesized into something exceptional. In the gaiwan, the leaves look like dark ropes, mottled in colour from their bruising, and slick and strong like arame seaweed. The tea is intensely aromatic - floral, fruity, and slightly smoky - with savoury, saline undertones difficult to name. Its liquor is smooth and thick, coating your mouth and throat with a sweetness that lingers long after it is swallowed. We find wild mountain flowers and pomelo in this tea, woven through a dense, rocky foundation. It leaves us feeling very awakened, not to mention grateful for the experience of tasting it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459949277289,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459949310057,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32459949375593,"sku":"","price":110.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_19105_WEB.jpg?v=1774038568"},{"product_id":"huangzhixiang-pheonix-oolong","title":"Huangzhixiang","description":"\u003cp\u003eHuangzhixiang directly translates to \"Yellow Gardenia Fragrance,\" which describes the unmistakable aroma this varietal of oolong emits. This gardenia scented tea tree was given the name \"Huangzhixiang\" in 1956, by the tea cooperative in Wudong Village. The tea farmers that made up this cooperative recognized that the fragrance of yellow gardenia flowers may be used as a benchmark for the fragrance of all teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from the famous Da'an Village of Wudong Mountain. The village takes its name from the ancient Taiping Temple there, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty. At 3100 ft above sea level, the area is suspended in mist and clouds that continuously obscure Wudong Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe region is marked by many giant rocks, and between them, densely gathered vegetation. The village is nestled between mountain peaks in all directions. We find many ancient tea trees, Mother Trees, and Old Groves thriving in the special geography around Da'an Village. According to locals, the monks who meditated in Taiping Temple liked to drink tea, and they grew and harvested their own tea trees. Villagers suspect that this is the reason why there are so many varietals of tea trees in Da'an, all stemming from the tea garden that was once tended to by the monks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuangzhixiang is a delicate oolong and we taste it in long, arching strokes. Its sweetness lingers on the palate, intermixing with the smell of honey and strange fruit. The tea liquor has a striking bright yellowish-orange tone, and appears dense, like an elixir. The aroma of yellow gardenia flowers lingers on the palate long after it is swallowed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459953045609,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459953111145,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32459953143913,"sku":"","price":115.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/huangzhixiang.jpg?v=1774038729"},{"product_id":"old-grove-shuixian-2019","title":"Semi Wild Old Grove Shuixian","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes to us from tea historian and forager, Mei, who seeks indigenous and forgotten Shuixian and Buddha's Hand growing throughout the jungles of Yongchun, Fujian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShuixian is one of the most well-known oolong varietals. Its origin can be traced to the Jianyang District in the northern part of the Fujian province, where it was discovered around 1600 as a tea tree that produced exceptionally fragrant oolongs. It was then brought to the Wuyishan area, where it was cultivated, and where most shuixians today come from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYongchun shuixian differs from Wuyishan shuixian primarily in its craftmanship. The fresh leaves are less oxidized, and go through several rounds of longer and slower roasting. The leaves for this tea were foraged by a group of 9 local villagers from a small grove on Yinshi Mountain, within the protected Water Conservation area. The trees were planted in the 1940's and abandoned, growing wild ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea was then handcrafted by Mr. Liu, one of the most earnest and dedicated tea makers that we've met. It was slow roasted over charcoal in four rounds, bringing out the sweetness and distinct aromatics of the varietal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis oolong is extremely complex and ever changing in the glass. We find notes of orchid, fresh pandan, stone fruit, deep minerals, wildflower honey and a very long-lingering sweetness. It might be the perfect example of a Fujian shuixian.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459988041833,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459988074601,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/semiwildshuixian.jpg?v=1774101414"},{"product_id":"yongchun-buddha-s-hand-first-day-harvest-2019","title":"Semi Wild Buddha's Hand","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis oolong comes to us from tea historian and forager, Mei, who seeks indigenous and forgotten Shuixian and Buddha's Hand growing throughout the jungles of Yongchun, Fujian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe origin of Buddha's Hand tea can be traced back to an ancient temple on Shifeng Cliff, Yongchun. Fingered citron, a very fragrant and unusual looking citrus fruit, is a common offering in temples. Soon after the temple was built in the late 1600's, monks planted fingered citron trees to worship Buddha. They also planted tea trees, as they drank tea daily while meditating. The story goes that, one monk thought it would be nice to have a tea with citrus scent. He grafted branches of a tea tree onto the fingered citron tree, carefully cared for it, and successfully made tea from the leaves. It is said that these tea leaves were \"as big as Buddha's hands,\" and carried the natural scent of fingered citron. There are still 89 mother Buddha's Hand trees, all over 300 years old, surrounding the temple today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Buddha's Hand is from old groves of tea trees on Yinshi Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Yongchun. The trees were planted in the 1940's, and only discovered a few years ago. Because of the high altitude and remoteness of its location, these tea trees had been left to grow in the wild, with no human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make this tea, very young leaves were harvested on the second day of the season, as these tender leaves produce tea that is exceptionally sweet and milky. The fresh leaves are foraged by a small group of nine local villagers, and handcrafted by Mr. Liu, one of the most earnest and dedicated tea makers we've ever encountered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting tea is one of our all-time favourite oolongs. It is sweet, smooth, floral, milky and complex. All of its attributes are very well balanced, giving this tea depth and an integrated profile. It opens with floral and nutty notes, reminiscent of roasted sunflower seeds and fresh fava beans. Later infusions reveal fruity notes, like apricot and pear, with a mouthcoating sweetness similar to an ice wine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459984109673,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459984142441,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/semiwildbuddhand.jpg?v=1774101381"},{"product_id":"milanxiang","title":"Honey Orchid","description":"\u003cp\u003eMilanxiang, or Honey Orchid, is a Dancong, or \"single grove,\" Oolong from Dazhi Mountain, the third highest peak in the Phoenix Mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo grow Phoenix Dancong cultivars will select a wild \"mother tree\" from the ancient tea trees indigenous to the region, basing their choice on its distinct fragrance. They then graft this mother tree onto existing trees, cloning and then propagating it. After several generations of this practice, there are nearly one hundred well known varietals of Phoenix Dancong, each with a unique fragrance and taste. Most were named for their aromas — we see names like Gardenia, Magnolia, Jasmine, and, in this instance, Honey Orchid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo craft this tea freshly picked leaves are withered indoors on woven bamboo mats for 10 hours. Then the leaves are tossed and bruised to ensure even oxidation. The oxidation process lasts for more than 2 days, during which the leaves develop increasingly complex flavor profiles. Finally, the tea is roasted at a low temperature over lychee charcoal, coaxing out its natural fruity notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting tea is very pretty. Its pink-tinted liquor smells like dried roses. Beneath the flowers you find nectarines, buckwheat honey and pomegranate molasses. These notes, along with the tea's mouthfeel, culminate in a honeyed quality that evolves over many infusions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39537273634921,"sku":"","price":22.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39537273667689,"sku":"","price":44.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":39537273700457,"sku":"","price":84.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/honeyorchid.jpg?v=1784989528"},{"product_id":"rougui","title":"Rougui 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe magnificent Wuyi Mountains, a protected Nature Reserve in Fujian, is home to some of the most treasured and highly sought after oolongs in China. An UNESCO World Heritage site, it famously consists of 36 peaks, 72 caves and 99 cliffs. Tea from this area is called yancha 岩茶, \"cliff or rock oolong.\" True yanchas are rare, as they come from the limited number of tea trees located within the Nature Reserve that are harvested according to ancestral rites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shuilian Cave is the largest cave in the Wuyi Mountain Area. The cliff that the cave is located in is more than 300 feet tall, with two springs at the top casting over its edge. Clear water runs from these springs, passing over the mouth of the cave, year-round. From below, they appear like two floating dragons spraying ambergris over the mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name of this cliff, Shuiliandong 水帘洞, is made up of three characters: \u003cem\u003eshui\u003c\/em\u003e is water, \u003cem\u003elian\u003c\/em\u003e means curtain or bead, and \u003cem\u003edong\u003c\/em\u003e is cave. And so the cliff is named for this falling water which hangs, like a beaded curtain, over the mouth of the cave. With the constant streams of water filtering through the cliff, continually feeding into the vibrant foliage below, we can imagine the mineral available to the roots of the tea trees there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rich soil is well matched by the more robust varietal of oolong, rougui, that grows here. These rougui trees are around 25 years old. They grow on a small plot of land that belongs to the family of Pei Liyan; generational tea farmers who have ancestral rites to their land inside the Nature Reserve. The tea was crafted by her father, who has been crafting Rock oolongs for over 4 decades. It is made following traditional techniques, which includes being roasted in 5 rounds over the course of 4 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea has the distinct delineating architecture of all rouguis. It seems to open on the palate like a structure built inside a cave. Inside of this mineral construction we taste purple flowers and peach notes. Its subtle complexities appear one after another, in a string of references, and continue for a long time, much like the beads of water that make up Shuilian's curtain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39537288577129,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39537288609897,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":39537288642665,"sku":"","price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/rougui_6e627039-fd20-468d-9b9c-c060a0693593.jpg?v=1774101723"},{"product_id":"old-grove-lingtou-baiye","title":"Old Grove Lingtou Baiye","description":"\u003cp\u003eLingtou Baiye is a classic tea. It is known for its distinct honey notes, underlying a very beautiful floral fragrance that fills the nasal passages. It is famously full-bodied, while still being refreshing. Good Lingtou Baiye from higher elevation villages like this one can be aged up to 20 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince the 1960s Lingtou Village in Shuangbinniang Mountain has been cultivating the Baiye varietal of Phoenix Oolong and receiving a great deal of attention for it! \"Lingtou\" is the name of the village where this varietal originated, and \"Baiye\" translates to \"white leaf.\" In the 1980s this varietal was classified by the China State Commerce Department as \"China's Famous Tea.\" In the 1990s it was listed as \"tea for state guests,\" and was served to important foreign visitors at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe earliest classification of Phoenix Oolong were 白叶 Baiye (white leaf) or 乌叶 Wuye (dark leaf), depending on the color of the fresh new leaves. The classification of Phoenix Oolong by aroma, (like Huangzhixiang for gardenia scent, Molixiang for jasmine scent), appeared later, after land reforms in the 1950s when tea estates were given to individual tea farmers who then took liberty naming their teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis classic Phoenix oolong is incredibly delicious. It opens quickly, revealing its complex fragrance and smooth body in the first infusion. Its tasting notes remind us of the bruising process the tea leaves went through: in its bright golden liquor we find dark purple flowers, cooked fruits, and black plum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOld Grove oolongs last for many, many infusions. At first they are very dynamic and captivate our full attention, then eventually they level out, sustaining a beautiful flavour and full body for a surprisingly long time. This is a tea to sit with.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39643132493929,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2912.jpg?v=1701894889"},{"product_id":"true-cliff-shuixian-2007","title":"Sanyang Peak Shuixian 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe magnificent Wuyi Mountains are home to some of the most treasured and highly sought after oolongs in China. An UNESCO World Heritage site, this region famously consists of 36 peaks, 72 caves and 99 cliffs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea from this protected area is called yancha 岩茶, \"cliff or rock oolong.\" True yanchas are rare, as they come from the limited number of tea trees located within the Nature Reserve that are harvested according to ancestral rites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particularly special yancha is from Sanyang Peak, the highest peak within the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve. The shuixian trees here are considered to be old grove, and have been harvested and crafted by Uncle Huang, a generational tea maker with over 4 decades of experience making yancha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen describing the best yanchas, the Chinese use the phrase 岩骨花香, which loosely translates to \"cliff bone, floral fragrance,\" meaning that the yancha has cliff and mineral notes as its skeleton, and a floral perfume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis yancha achieves exactly this arrangement of rock and flowers. The liquor moves gently downwards, across the palate, and its taste extends for a long time. In this downward motion, we taste so many different inflections of cliff and stone, and with this erosion comes a cascading bouquet of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs it descends the aroma of this tea shifts with every inhalation: woody, musky, mineral, floral. It has a sweet, lingering aftertaste with notes of cocoa, tobacco, apricots and tree sap. Its complexity leaves a lasting impression, as it seems to reference the remarkable biodiversity of the place from which it came. This is a powerful tea, but one that leaves us feeling serene.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39712631783529,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/sanyang_peak_shuixian_2781a2ef-90b0-400a-962f-a6c3e89426a0.jpg?v=1782428362"},{"product_id":"yashixiang-duck-shit-2019","title":"Yashixiang \"Duck Shit\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eYashixiang, or \"Duck Shit,\" is a relatively recent Phoenix Oolong varietal. The mother tree, now 85 years old, is situated in the well-known Pingkangtou Village on Wudong Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLegend has it that the name Yashixiang or \"Duck Shit\" came from this Village. The mother tree was planted in a tea garden where the soil was tinted yellow, dense with clay and minerals that made it resemble the colour of duck shit. Tea trees planted in this soil grew beautiful, dark green tea leaves, and villagers began to ask the tea farmer for the name of this striking varietal. Afraid that his tea plant would be stolen, the tea farmer responded, \"it's not good tea, it smells like duck shit.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea's detracting name succeeded in protecting the mother trees, but did not restrict Yashixiang's reputation as an exceptional and refined Phoenix Oolong. This one is made with leaves from an old grove of trees, crafted by tea master Ma Xiaohou, who has been working with the Yashixiang varietal since the '90's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves have been gently roasted over charcoal for over 20 hours, adding great depth and texture to this already complex leaf. It takes great skill and practice, as there is a fine point to which this tea has to be bruised and roasted to express Yashixiang's full character without overpowering its nuances, and Ma Xiaohou has achieved this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts slightly oily liquor is smooth and clear, coating the mouth and drawing saliva from under the tongue immediately. Its character is found more in the body of the tea than its fragrance. Fine tannins create delicate resistance on the palate, slowing the passing aromatics and giving the tea a soothing downward pull. We find notes of camphor, incense, lychee, and pungent flowers, however as a whole, it gives the sensation of tasting like \u003cem\u003ea bit of everything\u003c\/em\u003e ... perhaps it can only be said to taste like \"Duck Shit.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo fully experience this tea, we highly recommend using a high quality porcelain gaiwan for brewing. After each infusion, be sure to smell the inside of the lid of your gaiwan by breathing short and quick puffs of air in and out of your nose very close to the lid. Repeating this after each infusion, you will see that aroma changes dramatically with each puff of air in and out of your nose. The scent of Duck Shit takes us to many, very beautiful places.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39712635060329,"sku":"","price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2760.jpg?v=1731038182"},{"product_id":"2020-charcoal-roasted-semi-wild-buddhas-hand","title":"Charcoal Roasted Buddha's Hand","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis heritage oolong comes to us from tea historian and forager, Mei, who seeks indigenous and forgotten Shuixian and Buddha's Hand growing throughout the jungles of Yongchun, Fujian. The origin of Buddha's Hand tea can be traced back to an ancient temple on Shifeng Cliff, Yongchun. Fingered citron, a very fragrant and unusual looking citrus fruit, is a common offering in temples. Soon after the temple was built in the late 1600's, monks planted fingered citron trees to worship Buddha. They also planted tea trees, as they drank tea daily while meditating. The story goes that, one monk thought it would be nice to have a tea with citrus scent. He grafted branches of a tea tree onto the fingered citron tree, carefully cared for it, and successfully made tea from the leaves. It is said that these tea leaves were \"as big as Buddha's hands,\" and carried the natural scent of fingered citron. There are still 89 mother Buddha's Hand trees, all over 300 years old, surrounding the temple today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Charcoal Roasted Buddha's Hand is foraged from old groves of tea trees on Yinshi Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Yongchun. The trees were planted in the 1940's, and only discovered a few years ago. Because of the high altitude and remoteness of its location, these tea trees had been left to grow in the wild, with no human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make this tea, very young leaves were harvested on the second day of the season, as these tender leaves produce tea that is exceptionally sweet and milky. The fresh leaves are foraged by a small group of nine local villagers, and handcrafted by Mr. Liu, one of the most earnest and dedicated tea makers we've ever encountered. The leaves are slowly roasted over charcoal in four rounds. The result is an oolong that has great depth and complexity. Its warm smokey notes are complimented by bright citrusy and floral notes, finishing with a soft creaminess that sticks to the palate.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":47060923089176,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":47060923121944,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/charcoalroastedbuddhahand.jpg?v=1774101583"},{"product_id":"yellow-rose-黄玫瑰岩茶","title":"Yellow Rose","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe consider Yellow Rose an experimental tea for a few reasons. One being that this rare varietal is a relatively new cross breed of two other oolongs, Huangguanyin (yellow cassia) and Huangdan, developed in 2002. Another being that, because this varietal is so delicate, its craftsmanship deviates from other True Cliff oolongs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new varietal earned such a pretty name on behalf of its extremely gentle and sweet florality. Being so delicate, the roasting process for it requires careful attention otherwise it will be overpowered. The leaves must be roasted over a specific wood charcoal that burns at a lower temperature, and for a longer period of time. Therefore, only a very experienced artisan can craft this tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Yellow Rose was planted in the village of Wusandi 吴三地, 45km northwest of the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve. This is a famous tea village, situated at a relatively high altitude for the region, and famous for its Shuixian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe entire community in Wusandi collectively maintains traditional and regenerative tea farming techniques. They benefit greatly from the fact that the older generations in their village did not cut down the tea trees and work to ensure this happens for generations to come. This shared understanding has meant that the Wusandi villagers have been able to preserve an incredible number of old grove tea trees — something that we rarely see in famous tea regions nowadays. Even more unusual is that, planted amongst them, is this strange new experiment, Yellow Rose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYellow Rose is fascinating for oolong drinkers, as the stronger characteristics we associate with this kind of tea are all softened. This gives way to the nuances of rock oolong's more gentle, floral characteristics. The \"cliff\" is still present, but these softened mineral notes come on the finish, after we've tasted something very sweet and intensely pretty.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40114211389545,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40114211422313,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_1891.png?v=1656960326"},{"product_id":"charcoal-roasted-oolong","title":"Charcoal Roasted Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis oolong is crafted by Lin Zhenwen, a well known tea master throughout Anxi for his skill in charcoal roasting. When done well, this technique coaxes various degrees of sweetness, fragrance and complexity from the tea leaves, becoming like a signature made on the tea. Every craftsman has a different one, and you will find Master Lin's distinct touch here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is a blend of 3 different oolong varietals that grow in Master Lin's tea garden in Meizhuang Village. His intention with this tea was to craft a delicious traditional oolong suitable for everyday drinking. It was roasted in small batches, suspended in bamboo baskets over charcoal for 4 rounds over the course of 2 months. We taste this tea both for the fragrant Anxi tea leaves, and for how delicately they have been exposed to heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a sweet and balanced year for this tea. We find fruity notes and a soft, long lasting sweetness. Its tannic structure emerges slowly, lifting the weight of the liquor into the centre of the palate. By the third infusion the dark roasted leaves have opened entirely and their charming character is fully expressed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40114213519465,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40114213552233,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":40114213585001,"sku":"","price":78.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A3046.jpg?v=1726705452"},{"product_id":"molixiang-jasmine-fragrance","title":"Molixiang “Jasmine Fragrance”","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn English, Molixiang directly translates to \"Jasmine Fragrance.\" As we would expect, this tea is intensely floral. It comes from Fengxi Mountain, a relatively low elevation region in the Phoenix Mountains, where the Molixiang tea trees are considered Old Grove. The elevation makes them more accessible than other Phoenix oolongs, but they are crafted with the same care and attention as the most prized teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJasmine flowers have a special way of enticing us. When smelled up close their aroma is so intense it overwhelms the senses, but when smelled from afar it is so beguiling it draws us towards them. In the craftsmanship of this tea, artisans are consciously aiming to produce the scent of jasmine \u003cem\u003efrom a distance\u003c\/em\u003e, rather than the overtaking experience we have of it at closer range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo allow the aroma to concentrate, and then relax, this tea has been aged intentionally for at least a year. Time has left it very balanced, with an intriguing aroma and a rich, mouth-coating liquor. At first it is sweet and fragrant, like flowers and their nectar, then it gives way to the \"taste of the grove,\" where we feel the edges of forest notes, and the age and embeddedness of these trees in their region.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40240116203625,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40240116236393,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":40240116269161,"sku":"","price":156.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/molixiang.jpg?v=1774101840"},{"product_id":"jade-qilin","title":"Jade Qilin","description":"\u003cp\u003eJade Qilin is a very special True Cliff oolong from within the Wuyi Mountain Nature's Reserve in Northern Fujian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe magnificent Wuyi Mountains, a protected Nature Reserve in Fujian, is home to some of the most treasured and highly sought after oolongs in China. An UNESCO World Heritage site, it famously consists of 36 peaks, 72 caves and 99 cliffs. This area is so treasured that each of its unique geological features has been depicted in writings and drawings for centuries. Tea from this area is called yancha 岩茶, \"cliff or rock oolong.\" True yanchas are rare, as they come from the limited number of tea trees located within the Nature Reserve that are harvested according to ancestral rites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe varietal of this tea, Yu Qilin, is extremely rare amongst the already rare Wuyi cliff oolongs. One from within the Nature Reserve is near impossible to come by. With gratitude for the connections that allowed us to source this tea, it is truly a privilege to be able to share it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYu Qilin, or \"Jade Qilin,\" is the name of a unicorn-like chimerical creature from ancient Chinese mythology. It is one of five auspicious animals whose appearance, ancient people believed, brought good fortune. The Qilin is a symbol of kindness and harmony, and is often used to describe people with integrity and high moral standards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe can taste this tea with great curiosity as to why it would be named after the auspicious Qilin. Perhaps it is on account of the rarity of this varietal's appearance. It could have something to do with the fortifying and generous characteristics of the tea itself, as the liquor has a medicinal quality that seems to speak directly to the body and its energy. It could also be an acknowledgement of the profound integrity of its taste: the tea produces a smooth and descending liquor, with a flavour so fused it is impossible to pull apart into individual notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhatever it may be, the mystical name certainly suits this tea, whose slightly opaque liquor tastes neither floral nor architectural as we would expect, but rather seems to suspend something unlikely and unearthly within it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40294638551145,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40294638583913,"sku":"","price":160.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/jade_qilin_9fbec44a-e7b5-4fe8-b728-d45daea23efd.jpg?v=1782428361"},{"product_id":"old-grove-shuixian-2022","title":"Old Grove Shuixian 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the Southern Fujian Province there is a lesser known region, bordering Anxi in the South and Dehua in the North, called Yongchun. Yongchun has a surprising number of old grove tea trees that are now more than 60 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Shuixian comes from the White Crane Mountain Nature Reserve, located in the middle of Yongchun County. The tea trees on this mountain were planted in the 1960's, and most of them are around 60 years old. The rise in agriculture throughout the area in the 1990's, coupled with the sudden success of the Tieguanyin tea market, meant that almost all the tea farmers working with Buddha's Hand and Shuixian abandoned their trees in the mountains. The trees have since formed small groves, and have self-sustained, unattended in the wilderness, ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAside from its semi-wildness, the special thing about this Shuixian is the unusual way it has been processed. Most of the time Shuixian oolongs are roasted over charcoal for 4 rounds, however his Shuixian did not receive any charcoal roasting. Instead, it was baked at low heat very slowly, for over 30 hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis extended process has revealed qualities inherent to the Shuixian varietal we rarely experience. Without the charcoal notes colouring the tea, we see how sweet and woody this varietal is on its own. This more delicate process also emphasizes the unique terroir of White Crane Mountain, and the particular mineral quality it has imparted to the tea trees that grow there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were very pleasantly surprised by this experimental tea, and appreciate the opportunity to encounter this varietal in a new way. We still find the grassy complexity distinct to shuixian in the glass, balanced by the warmth, texture and depth of Old Grove oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44133681332504,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44133681365272,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/oldgroveshuixian.jpg?v=1774101449"},{"product_id":"old-grove-buddhas-hand-2022","title":"Old Grove Buddha's Hand 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the Southern Fujian Province there is a lesser known region, bordering Anxi in the South and Dehua in the North, called Yongchun. Yongchun has a surprising number of old grove tea trees that are now more than 60 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis oolong comes from the White Crane Mountain Nature Reserve, located in the middle of Yongchun County. The tea trees on this mountain were planted in the 1960's, and most of them are around 60 years old. The rise in agriculture throughout the area in the 1990's, coupled with the sudden success of the Tieguanyin tea market, meant that almost all the tea farmers working with Buddha's Hand and Shuixian abandoned their trees in the mountains. The trees have since formed small groves, and have self-sustained, unattended in the wilderness, ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Buddha's Hand has long, broad leaves and a formidable character. Its taste is immediately sweet and warm, like corn syrup, or even cotton candy. Notes of lemon and roasted nuts become gradually more distinct through infusions. Its strong, direct qualities reflect the balanced and generous ecosystem from which it comes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44133714788632,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44133714821400,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/oldgrovebuddhashand.jpg?v=1774101494"},{"product_id":"yongchun-rougui","title":"Yongchun Rougui","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the last decade our friend Mei has trekked almost all of the mountains and peaks of Yongchun. She has come across abandoned tea trees deep in the mountains, and remote small scale tea farms that are still in operation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rougui is an experimental tea from one of these small scale farms. The craftsman brought over trees of the Rougui varietal from the Wuyi Mountains, where they are indigenous, and planted them in the protected Water Reservoir Area of Yongchun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis high-altitude area is a jungle, with interconnected trees branching over the edges of the lakes and rivers. The soil here is very unique, made up of mostly small, weathered granite rocks, which offer the ideal drainage for oolong varietals. Mainly shuixian tea trees grow on this mountain, alongside a small number of Buddha's Hand trees. Up until around 10 years ago, when these trees were planted, there had never been a known rougui tree here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis transplanted varietal offers us a unique experience of rougui, sustained by a completely new terroir. We find that, without the specific and concentrated minerals of the Wuyi Mountains, we taste the unusual sweetness and softness of this robust varietal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a far more lighthearted tea than what we would expect from a rougui. Some of the varietal's characteristic minerality is still there, but that structure is washed over by a velvety mouthfeel we usually see in other Yongchun oolongs, like Shuixian and Buddha's Hand. It has a saliva-producing, grassy sweetness, with notes of cigar leaf, caramel and smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44133743493400,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44133743526168,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/yongchunrougui.jpg?v=1774101538"},{"product_id":"daan-sunrise-red","title":"Da'an Sunrise Red","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe are very fortunate to be able to offer this Sunrise Red from Da'an Village, of the legendary Wudong Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Phoenix Oolong is crafted out of a varietal of tea called Dongfang Hong, which translates directly as \"Oriental,\" or \"Eastern Red.\" It has long been the tea selected to be served to foreign heads of state when they attend important dinners in China, and is famous for its elegant aroma, deep and full bodied mouth feel, and silky texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDa'an Village lies deep within the Wudong Mountains and central to an area widely regarded as the most prestigious origin for Phoenix oolongs. The name of the village means \"Great Monastery,\" a reference to the ancient Taiping temple built there during the Qing Dynasty. Because of the tea-appreciating Buddhist monks that first inhabited the temple, Da'an is home to the Mother Trees of many varietals of Phoenix oolongs; they are the trees that the monks planted near the temple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese tea trees are third generation offspring of their Mother Tree. The tea is traditionally crafted by hand, and slowly roasted over charcoal at low heat. Dry, the tea smells like nectar and honey. Once wet, its dark, long spindles smell more like smoke and acacia wood. The first three infusions are very fragrant and sweet, drawing saliva under the tongue. Its intoxicating fragrance sticks to the palate, building layers of aroma as you drink it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a slightly oily texture, we really notice this tea's intensity building through infusions. Its lingering notes, like longan and wood, are very soothing and give this oolong a downward pull that relaxes the body. Eventually, it places us back where it started us off, with the last infusions tasting like very floral honey.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":47153518084376,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":47153518117144,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":47153518149912,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/da_ansunrisered.jpg?v=1784989600"},{"product_id":"alishan-high-mountain","title":"Alishan High Mountain","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis fresh, winter harvest oolong is from a small, high altitude tea farm in the towering Alishan Mountain range of Taiwan. The varietal is indigenous to the area, and favours the cool climate of the mountains. Here, the trees are covered in cloud and mist all year round, producing a tea that is vibrant, full bodied and sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese robust, wakame-like leaves reanimate beautifully under water, revealing their impressive stems and structure as they unfurl. Eventually, it is as though an entire tea tree has bloomed in the gaiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts taste balances the sweet and savoury qualities of the Qingxin varietal; a flavour that feels woven together by warm and intriguing spice notes. Hints of cinnamon, clove, and cardamom are complimented by a tingling \"high alpine\" sensation at the back of the palate. The warmer notes fade after a couple infusions, but its taste stays very integrated. In a long and elegant finish, later infusions remind us of lilies and rainwater.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":47386038534424,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":47386038567192,"sku":null,"price":58.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":47386038599960,"sku":null,"price":112.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/alishanhighmountain.jpg?v=1784989491"},{"product_id":"oriental-beauty-gold-award","title":"Oriental Beauty Gold","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriental Beauty is a tea that occupies a category of its own. It is well known as a rare and precious tea, often commanding the highest prices of all teas from Taiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are a few reasons why Oriental Beauty carries both this value and reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirstly, it is entirely made from leaves that are bitten by a small fly. The bite from the fly is what begins this oolong's process of oxidation, allowing it to happen while the leaves are still on the tree! We can attribute Oriental Beauty's very unique and sweet characteristics to this little fly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSecondly, like all highly prized tea, terroir is extremely important to Oriental Beauty. True Oriental Beauty will only come from one of two small villages, Beipu and E'mei. of Hsin Chu County. These two villages combined have an area of 90 km², (to put that in perspective, the city of Vancouver is 114 km²!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, Oriental Beauty is extremely labour intensive to harvest and craft. The highest grades are made exclusively of the smallest and youngest one-bud-one-leaf. These  tender leaves are very hard to pick. In one full day of harvesting, a skilled tea picker will only collect between 75 and 100 grams of fresh leaves. Thus, it takes 8 to 10 skilled tea pickers an entire day to collect enough leaves to make 500 grams of Oriental Beauty. As you can quickly calculate, the labour costs for Oriental Beauty are amongst the highest of all teas in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this highest grade of Oriental Beauty we notice smaller, more condensed leaves. In the dried tea, we clearly see one tip and one bud. It is difficult to imagine that each leaf and bud was picked by hand, they are so tiny and delicate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aroma of this tea has the same sweet, earthy bass layer as the Bronze, but with an extra-dimensional complex set of top notes, which caused us to describe it comparatively as \"more 3D.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea brews a champagne coloured liquor, much lighter than the Bronze tea. Its taste is bursting with life, like spring flowers and magnolia. It has a robust aquatic quality, like water lotus: a unique bouquet supported by the earthiness of the tea itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the first infusion the lid of the gaiwan smells like what we think angel wings might smell like, were you to bury your face in them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second infusion plunges us deeper into this tea's serene world of pond notes: we taste petals, moss, and wet stone. The soft mouthfeel invites pause, and we hold it on our palates for a moment before swallowing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe notice that, as we drink this Oriental Beauty, it opens the imagination. Whole images and scenarios come to us as we sip it, and our minds wander through them. We recall the truth in our initial impression of its taste: that it really is extra-dimensional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter several infusions the wet leaves look entirely like an aquatic plant. They are a rich, uniform, oxidized red – waxy, winding, and wholly intact.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"4g","offer_id":47660808306968,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"8g","offer_id":47660808339736,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A3233.jpg?v=1707443126"},{"product_id":"oriental-beauty-bronze-award","title":"Oriental Beauty Silver","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriental Beauty is a tea that occupies a category of its own. It is well known as a rare and precious tea, often commanding the highest prices of all teas from Taiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are a few reasons why Oriental Beauty carries both this value and reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirstly, it is entirely made from leaves that are bitten by a small fly. The bite from the fly is what begins this oolong's process of oxidation, allowing it to happen while the leaves are still on the tree! We can attribute Oriental Beauty's very unique and sweet characteristics to this little fly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSecondly, like all highly prized tea, terroir is extremely important to Oriental Beauty. True Oriental Beauty will only come from one of two small villages, Beipu and E'mei. of Hsin Chu County. These two villages combined have an area of 90 km², (to put that in perspective, the city of Vancouver is 114 km²!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, Oriental Beauty is extremely labour intensive to harvest and craft. The highest grades are made exclusively of the smallest and youngest one-bud-one-leaf. These  tender leaves are very hard to pick. In one full day of harvesting, a skilled tea picker will only collect between 75 and 100 grams of fresh leaves. Thus, it takes 8 to 10 skilled tea pickers an entire day to collect enough leaves to make 500 grams of Oriental Beauty. As you can quickly calculate, the labour costs for Oriental Beauty are amongst the highest of all teas in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn my recent trip to Taiwan I was fortunate to source two grades of Oriental Beauty, crafted by a 76-years old tea master. One won the Gold Medal Award at the Annual Hsinchu Oriental Beauty Competition, and the other won the Silver Medal Award. These teas exemplify what makes Oriental Beauty so sought after and so highly regarded in the world of tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe immediately notice the gorgeous spaciousness of this dried tea: its delicate, variegated silver and dark-red leaves seem to hold themselves up. Their aroma is arresting, with layered notes of flowers, honey and sunbaked earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first infusion brews an apricot coloured liquor. We encounter the sweet earthiness of this tea, with lilly and cacao notes flickering on top of it. The second infusion brings out its tobacco and incensed notes, as we find it increasing in complexity. The wet leaves that have now unfolded completely are a deep, uniform sandalwood colour. Their fullness and opacity is something very unique to behold: they look and even smell a bit like sweet wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea can go on for many infusions without its character or colour waning. Subtle tannins reveal themselves as the intensity of its flavour subsides, creating an architecture that holds it on our palate a little longer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter you've finished drinking the tea you must touch the leaves before discarding them. They feel unlike any other tea leaves – almost like a succulent, or arame seaweed – full of life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"4g","offer_id":47660813484312,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"16g","offer_id":47690682237208,"sku":"","price":160.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A3552.jpg?v=1707840001"},{"product_id":"cuifeng-high-mountain","title":"Cuifeng High Mountain","description":"\u003cp\u003eCui Feng, or \"Emerald Peak\", is one of the highest mountains in Nantou, Taiwan. It is very close to the famous Li Shan 梨山, or \"Pear Mountain,\" so most of the time teas from Cui Feng are categorized as coming from Li Shan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe visited Mr. Li's tea farm in Cui Feng in January 2024. The 3 hour drive from Sun Moon Lake in Nantou up into the mountains is done by way of narrow, switchback roads: it feels like you're weaving your way into the clouds. When we arrived at Mr. Li's small tea farm at the peak of Cui Feng, over 8500 ft elevation, we were astounded by the view of the surrounding mountains, and at how steep the terrain was.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCui Feng oolong has a very distinct vibrancy and brightness. This is usually referred to as the \"cold fragrance,\" only found in very high elevation Taiwanese oolongs. This is also an exceptionally sweet year for this tea. The first infusion tastes like dissolved sugar more than anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe can attribute its intense sweetness to the dramatic height of the mountain, where the difference in temperature between day and night is drastic. Here, tea plants work desperately to produce sugar for themselves. By the second infusion the leaves have fully opened and a refreshing salinity, as well as a structured mouthfeel, has emerged. Its sugaryness plays a supporting role as complexity increases, coming forward at the finish alongside a minty, tingling \"cold\" sensation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":48900750737688,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":48900750770456,"sku":null,"price":58.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":48900750803224,"sku":null,"price":112.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18400_WEB.jpg?v=1774037594"},{"product_id":"jinxuan-milk-oolong","title":"Jinxuan Milk Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eJin Xuan is the name of the varietal of oolong from Taiwan commonly known as \"milk oolong.\" As you might guess, the name comes from the fact that true Jin Xuan is naturally and unmistakably creamy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Jin Xuan comes from a small, high altitude tea farm in the towering Alishan Mountain range of Taiwan. This varietal is indigenous to the area, favouring the cool climate of the mountains where the tea trees are covered in cloud and mist all year round, making them vibrant, full bodied and sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike many \"milk oolongs\" available on the market, this is real Jin Xuan, meaning that it does not have anything artificial added to make it taste more creamy. On top of that, this is the best traditional Jin Xuan we have ever tasted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a buttery mouthfeel with strong notes of vanilla cookies and whipping cream. The combination of its slight dustiness and palate-coating density is so enjoyable, it is a tea that keeps you wanting more of it. It has a surprisingly clean, floral finish that reminds us of freshly washed cotton: we can't think of a tea that references more comforting things. This oolong will last through many infusions, becoming more and more impressively and pleasingly milky.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":48900761878808,"sku":null,"price":18.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":48900761911576,"sku":null,"price":36.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":48900761944344,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18523_WEB.jpg?v=1774037350"},{"product_id":"dinosaur-egg-oolong","title":"\"Dinosaur Egg\" Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince 2019, tea master Lin Zhenwen has made between 10 to12 Dinosaur Eggs each year, depending on how much fresh tea he can forage from his grove of semi wild Golden Cassia Oolong trees in Southern Fujian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery stage of the process that results in this remarkable heritage tea, from harvesting the leaves to shaping it, to bundling it in canvas cloth, is done skillfully by hand. Its craftsmanship showcases both the beauty of the 60 year old semi-wild trees it comes from, and the endangered practice of handcrafting oolongs in the Anxi region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDinosaur Egg tea is so rare because it can only be made by the tea master Lin Zhenwen himself, and each step is extremely labour intensive. Aside from the skilful and repetitive rolling, kneading, pressing and rubbing done to gradually shape it into an egg, the charcoal roasting that finishes it is done in 6 rounds, each lasting over 20 hours. Roughly six pounds of fresh tea leaves will make one single one-pound Dinosaur Egg.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tradition of making this egg shaped oolong started in the Qing Dynasty, but the craft has nearly disappeared over the past 30 years, as a younger generation who grew up with tea machinery no longer knows how to knead tea by hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is crafted so that it could be aged for hundreds of years, but even in its youth its complexity is striking. Beneath its delicate mouthfeel is an immense depth of character. It is fruity and floral and, although its low notes haven't fully developed as they one day will, it delivers a powerful and saliva invoking \"taste of the grove.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDinosaur Egg offers us a warm and gentle experience of time travel, incensed by the woody notes of Golden Cassia oolong. This 2024 harvest brews a crystal clear, champagne coloured liquor that tastes light, but leaves a lasting impression in both our minds and our mouths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an excellent tea for aging, that you will enjoy checking on periodically as it matures. The longer it is aged, the smoother, sweeter and more complex it will get. It is known to have a noticeable transformation in its character every 5 years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49121737015576,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A3633_1a1665c0-4442-41fe-bba6-fd82cc8b01bc.jpg?v=1726530158"},{"product_id":"oriental-beauty","title":"Oriental Beauty","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriental Beauty is a tea that occupies a category of its own. It is well known as a rare and precious tea, often commanding the highest prices of all teas from Taiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are a few reasons why Oriental Beauty carries both this value and reputation. Firstly, it is entirely made from leaves that are bitten by a small fly. The bite from the fly is what begins this oolong's process of oxidation, allowing it to happen while the leaves are still on the tree!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSecondly, terroir is extremely important to Oriental Beauty. True Oriental Beauty will only come from one of two small villages, Beipu or E'mei, in Hsin Chu County. Combined, they have an area of 90 km², an extremely small footprint for producing a tea that is sought after around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, Oriental Beauty is extremely labour intensive to harvest and craft. The highest grades are made exclusively of the smallest and youngest one-bud-one-leaf. These tender leaves are very hard to pick. In one full day of harvesting, a skilled tea picker will only collect up to 100 grams of fresh leaves. It takes 8 to 10 skilled tea pickers an entire day to collect enough leaves to make 500 grams of Oriental Beauty, meaning the labour costs for Oriental Beauty are amongst the highest of all traditional teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Oriental Beauty from Beipu has everything we could want and expect from a tea of this quality: delicate auburn leaves that smell sweet and reanimate quickly in water; a silky, round mouthfeel with minty floral notes that activate the palate; and lingering tropical fruit notes that leave the taste of water lily in their wake. The total experience of this tea reminds us a bit of junmai sake, or even Monet's Water Lilies, as it resonates as an elegant ode to wateriness itself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49133555089688,"sku":"","price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49133555155224,"sku":"","price":150.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2072_a0467f4e-e8ee-4c34-af90-c08e91035361.jpg?v=1726706352"},{"product_id":"gold-peony","title":"Gold Peony","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Gold Peony is a true-cliff rock oolong, harvested from leaves grown on Bishi 碧石岩, or \"Jade Stone,\" cliff. Its name refers to an uncommon varietal, made from crossbreeding two famous Fujian oolong trees: Tieguanyin and Golden Cassia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGold Peony was first introduced in the Anxi region, but didn't gain much recognition until it found its way to the Wuyi Mountain area. It is an especially fragrant varietal, favoured by oolong drinkers who prefer a simpler, sweeter fragrance and lighter body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a delicate varietal, Gold Peony is traditionally more lightly roasted than most cliff oolongs. This one received 4 rounds of gentle charcoal roasting over a span of 6 months. It was completed in October of 2023, and aged for 1 year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe find this Gold Peony to be particularly balanced, with the depth of character we would expect from a charcoal roasted cliff oolong of this quality, animated by a sprightliness imparted by the varietal. It is so delicate on the tongue, it seems to flicker. Its taste leads with fruity notes, like peach and raw cacao, then mineral notes and nectarine pit come through in its long finish. This is an excellent choice for a high quality, 'everyday drinking,' cliff oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49192835416344,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49192835449112,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":49192835481880,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2728_d3f00833-22c4-4c8d-8638-c2ed43f2c4eb.jpg?v=1731039243"},{"product_id":"yi-yi-rice","title":"Yi Yi Rice","description":"\u003cp\u003eYiyi Rice is an oolong almost exclusively enjoyed by the local people of the Phoenix Mountain Range. In Chinese, its name is \u003cem\u003eEr Mi\u003c\/em\u003e, which translates roughly as \"Two Rice.\" We call this tea YiYi Rice because \u003cem\u003eYi\u003c\/em\u003e is one, and the Chinese character for \u003cem\u003eEr\u003c\/em\u003e consists of two \u003cem\u003eYi,\u003c\/em\u003e like two grains of rice standing next to one another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally, in the Phoenix Mountain Range, all of the oolong crafted each season is sorted by hand at the finishing stage. Any leaves that appear slightly brown in color are picked out and set aside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese leaves will have discoloured either because they were slightly older when they were harvested, or because they were bruised and oxidized slightly more than the other leaves. YiYi Rice is tea made from these leaves. There are usually not many of them removed from each batch of Phoenix Oolong, so they are blended together for locals to enjoy as an everyday-tea year-round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one comes from core producing villages, Wudong, Da'an, and Daping, which are all renowned for their higher elevation tea farms and older tea trees. For this reason, it is a great introduction to higher-end Phoenix Oolong, offering an experience of tea from older trees at an otherwise impossible value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would like to sip on YiYi Rice while we are working on something, or hanging out with a friend. It is deep and sweet, presenting a relaxed version of the high-end Phoenix Oolongs we love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a caramelized and floral aroma that seeps deep into the palate. The tea is very well crafted, so the leaves are full and open evenly in the gaiwan, revealing their mottled surface from the bruising process. Their liquor has a clean taste, with charcoal notes threaded evenly through its earthy sweetness and uplifted finish. This is a great oolong for daily drinking, at a truly incredible value!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49319491961112,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49319491993880,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":49319492026648,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2629.jpg?v=1731039590"},{"product_id":"snow-flake-duck-shit","title":"Snow Flake \"Duck Shit\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fresh winter harvest of one of our most notorious Phoenix Oolongs, Snow Flake \"Duck Shit.\" This tea reminds us both how potent, and how sweet, things can be during the winter months. This year's harvest is so excellent it could be considered a benchmark for Snowflake Duck Shit: intensely floral, aromatic, creamy and rich.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Snow Flake\" refers to oolongs that are harvested in the winter season. They are gathered when temperatures are frosty on the mountains, and are the smallest harvests of the year. Teas harvested and crafted during this time are known to have a special \"snow flavor,\" along with the concentrated sweetness common amongst things that grow through the winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Snow Flake \"Duck Shit\" comes from Mr. Fu's family, who have been residents of Qipan Village on Dazhi Mountain for generations, keeping bees and growing tea. Their farm is on the eastern side and the third highest peak of the Phoenix Mountain range, where the Dancong varietal originates from, and where there are still thousands of them, over 100 years old, scattered throughout the tiny villages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe peak of Dazhi Mountain has an elevation of 4200 ft and the village of Qipan is located about halfway up, at an altitude of 2300 ft. Here, the temperatures are more mild, and the soil is very unique, made of a type of oil shale that is rich in kerogen and minerals, producing the distinct aroma we find in Dazhi Mountain teas. Only tea farms positioned near the middle of this mountainous region, like those in Dazhi, are able to produce a winter harvest tea, making teas like this one very precious, even to the locals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese dark, robust leaves smell powerful in the gaiwan, like incense, cedar and caramelized plum. The liquor has an impressive amount of structure, as well as clearing evergreen notes that are especially pronounced in this harvest. Its light astringency is evenly distributed on the palate, and stays present for many infusions, until giving way to a deep and comforting sweetness. You will enjoy spending a good amount of time with this exceptional tea, especially in cold weather.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49615652356376,"sku":null,"price":38.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49615652389144,"sku":null,"price":76.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/snowflakeduckshit.jpg?v=1784989553"},{"product_id":"autumn-tieguanyin","title":"Autumn Tieguanyin","description":"\u003cp\u003eTieguanyin: quite possibly the most famous oolong in the world, and yet, one that Cultivate has never carried. The reason for this is simply that, amidst such a saturated market, we have never found an example of this popular tea that is traditionally crafted, and that we absolutely love – that is, until now!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything happens in its own time, and we are at long last able to share with you an Autumn Tieguanyin we are thrilled by. It comes to us from Shimen Village, in Gande, Anxi at 3200 ft elevation; the most famous region for Tieguanyin in the world. It is crafted by Master Wu Xiaoquan, now in his late seventies, who has been crafting tea for over 5 decades, and whose family has lived in Shimen for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis authentic Tieguanyin is from a very small batch that he specially crafted for Cultivate. The leaves are from Master Wu's personal tea garden, where the tea trees are roughly 20 years old, which is considered \"old grove\" in this region. They were harvested on October 18, 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of modern Tieguanyin is produced from young tea trees and tastes much like a very floral green tea. We requested that Master Wu follow traditional methods of craftsmanship for this Tieguanyin, meaning the leaves would be allowed to oxidize for a longer period of time, and would see four rounds of \"bruising,\" before being slowly baked over charcoal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe quality of the tea that Master Wu has produced is truly amazing, so much so that we take no issue with having had to wait 10 years to acquire it. The leaves are a deep, mottled rust colour that glow as soon as they touch water. The liquor they brew is crystal clear and tinted a rich, golden hue. The tea has an elegant orchid fragrance held by the clean scent of charcoal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sensation of drinking this tea is so wild: it seems to open inside our mouths like an alien species of flower. We taste it in the middle of the tongue first, and then it blooms, touching every part of the palate. The striking clarity of the liquor foreshadows the clarity of its taste. None of its charcoal notes weigh it down, instead, it expands and expands –  as light as it is heavy, as forward as it is backward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe can't think of a tea we have tasted where the varietal, the terroir and the craftsmanship are so balanced we can not contemplate them as separate things when we taste it. For this Autumn Tieguanyin the sum is far greater than its parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExperiencing this tea has made it clear to us why Tieguanyin is one of the most prized and well known oolongs in the world. It has been a rewarding lesson in \"never say never\" for Cultivate that has left us smiling.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49615658844440,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"8g Pack","offer_id":49683066355992,"sku":"","price":24.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/cultivate-tea-jan-14-web-v3-7597.jpg?v=1738012323"},{"product_id":"snow-flake-da-wu-ye","title":"Snow Flake \"Da Wu Ye\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Da Wu Ye\" literally translates to \"big dark leaf.\" It is a common name for Phoenix oolongs that are crafted from darker and broader tea leaves, whereas oolongs made from lighter leaves are often referred to as Bai Ye, or \"white leaf.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Snow Flake\" means this tea was harvested in the winter, when the leaves are concentrated in their qualities from their increased effort to survive. Winter harvests are always the lowest production of the year, and considered the most precious and potent encounter with any varietal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Snow Flake Da Wu Ye comes from a small production tea garden on Nanling Mountain in Fenghuang County. The tea garden only grows two varietals of Phoenix oolong: Duckshit and Da Wu Ye. It is a natural tea farm where the tea trees are left to grow on their own, with minimal human intervention. As to be expected, production from farms like this is very low, as yields are left in the hands of the weather each year. Last year, for instance, there was no harvest at all on account of a drought. Thus, we really do take time to celebrate the arrival of Snow Flake Da Wu Ye, acknowledging the patience and knowing of the tea farmer who determines when it is achievable to produce. (This tea farmer happens to be a lover of tea himself, and we know he would only produce a winter harvest if it was going to be worthwhile!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinter arrived late to the Phoenix mountains this year and there were only a few days that were cold enough for harvesting. This year's harvest was gathered in early November.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dried tea is a beautiful tangle of robust, blackened leaves that smell like vanilla and sweet cream. As rich in character as it is, drinking this oolong is very calming. The taste of the tea is deeply sweet, with low-landing floral notes that settle on the back of the palate. We taste the whole plant, branches and brambles included, and can picture it in its context –  the waxy emerald green of its winter leaves against snow-covered cliffs –  as it passes across our palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gentle edge of astringency emerges as we enjoy this tea through infusions, giving this oolong a wabi sabi feel. This is to be expected and appreciated in Snow Flake teas, as leaves of naturally growing tea trees thicken to survive the winter, meaning proportions in them are not quite as balanced as they are in tea crafted from spring harvests. This, combined with the stress the tea trees are under in the winter, means that no matter how skilled the tea master, winter harvest tea will always be slightly astringent. We taste it as a signature of the season, and the temporal imprint of the tea tree's terroir. Thus, this tea can give way to a wonderful meditation on winter if you'd like it to follow it there.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49615670968600,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49615671001368,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/cultivate-tea-jan-14-web-7191_ffb40b82-d854-4421-8deb-8caf6b0a645e.jpg?v=1737695318"},{"product_id":"takahashi-s-oolong-koju","title":"Takahashi’s Oolong “Koju”","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Koju Oolong is crafted by the Takahashi's, a father and son duo whose family has farmed tea for 3 generations. They started making sencha, as most tea farmers in Shizuoka do, but 20 years ago the eldest son took an interest in oxidized teas like oolongs. He experimented with various processes for crafting oxidized teas, and has come to produce some of the rarest oolongs in Japan. Koju is the name of a varietal discovered by Mr. Takahashi himself. It is a hybrid cultivar of Inzatsu 131 (an exotic varietal brought to Japan from Manipur, India a century ago) and the Japanese varietal, Yabukita. Mr. Takahashi is currently the only person cultivating Koju in Japan, as he believes it to be particularly well suited for crafting as oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter being harvested by hand, the Koju leaves wither in the sun for up to an hour. Then they are withered further, for around 10 hours, using a yōseiki (a withering and shaking machine). During this stage the tea leaves give off a wonderfully fragrant aroma. Next, the leaves are quickly pan-fried, just long enough for them to become slightly crisp. After they are wrapped in cloth and gently steamed, softening them again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is very exciting to taste this rare varietal crafted using the oxidization techniques that Mr. Takahashi has developed. It tastes strikingly floral, reminiscent of Taiwanese Oolongs, with saline and pungent white flower notes. This florality, combined with its hydrating mouthfeel, makes it feel somewhat like a bruised gyokuro. In the gaiwan you will see the reanimated Koju leaves: their robust veins, hand-cut shape, and lightly oxidized surface. It stands in a category of its own.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":50853800411416,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50853800444184,"sku":null,"price":130.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251117_Cultivate_0234_WEB.jpg?v=1763921853"},{"product_id":"takahashi-s-oolong-inzatsu-131","title":"Inzatsu 131 Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003eInzatsu 131 Oolong is crafted by the Takahashi's, a father and son duo whose family has farmed tea for 3 generations. They started making sencha, as most tea farmers in Shizuoka do, but about 20 years ago the eldest son took an interest in oxidized teas like oolongs. He experimented with various processes for crafting oxidized teas, and has come to produce some of the rarest oolongs in Japan. Inzatsu 131 is the name of an exotic varietal that was brought to Japan from Manipur, India a century ago. Mr. Takahashi is currently the only person still cultivating it in Japan, as he believes it to be particularly well suited for oxidization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter being harvested by hand, the tea leaves are withered in the sun for up to an hour. Then they are withered further, for around 10 hours, using a yōseiki (a withering and shaking machine). During this stage the tea leaves give off a wonderfully fragrant aroma. Next, the leaves are quickly pan-fried, just long enough for them to become slightly crisp. After they are wrapped in cloth and gently steamed, softening them again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is very significant to us as it is the only whole leaf, hand picked, and oxidized tea that we have ever tried from Japan. It is beautiful to taste this rare varietal crafted with the techniques that Mr. Takahashi has patiently perfected. This is the furthest oxidized tea he makes, but it is still roasted relatively lightly and with care not to overtake the nuances of the varietal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves brew a golden liquor, opening quickly to impart a full flavour. This is perhaps as close as one gets to a Cliff Oolong from Japan: we taste orchids, rain water and rock face in it, rinsing our senses. It has a cleansing energy and, as we have come to understand about several teas from the Takahashi's, a profile that lands delicately between rustic and refined.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":50853800837400,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50853800870168,"sku":null,"price":130.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251117_Cultivate_0444_WEB.jpg?v=1764292894"},{"product_id":"shuixian-flower-fairy","title":"Shuixian \"Flower Fairy\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlower Fairy is a True Cliff Rock Oolong crafted from leaves grown on Bishi 碧石岩, or \"Jade Stone Cliff,\" within the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve. With only two rounds of charcoal roasting, it is a lighter style Shuixian. This varietal is famous for its fragrance and floral after taste: you will not be confused as to how this tea got its enchanting name. The tea leaves were harvested in the spring of 2024, roasted in October, and then aged for one year to integrate the florality of the Shuixian and the grounding notes from the roasting. Lighter roasted rock oolongs tend to be slightly unbalanced, leaning very far into their floral qualities, but this Shuixian surprised us. The leaves themselves carry enough depth and body to feel balanced even with such subtle roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brews a lightly golden liquor that is sweet and smooth, with metallic edges and articulate notes of cacao shells and violet. Roasted notes and minerality come forward through infusions, moving us out of a bed of flowers and into the cliffs from which this tea came. It's a relaxing and dreamlike journey that brings warmth and stillness to the body. The combination of purple flowers, wet stone, and ethereal affect feels like a midsummer night.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":50853805949208,"sku":null,"price":48.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50853805981976,"sku":null,"price":96.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251117_Cultivate_0963_HR.jpg?v=1764302447"},{"product_id":"snow-orchid","title":"Snow Orchid","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese tea buds are famous for sprouting right at the moment winter begins its shift to spring. For this reason, they are said to grow \"as fiercely as a tiger,\" and are even referred to as \"tea tigers\" among growers. This tea is of the Honey Orchid varietal, but because it has the intense fragrance of a winter harvest, combined with the mellow, rich undertone of spring tea, it is called \"Snow Orchid.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese transitional harvests do not happen every year. The prerequisite for high-quality Snow Orchid is that the winter must be cold enough or dry enough for the tea trees to enter full dormancy. Once they receive the signal of spring's rising earth energy, the winter buds, having accumulated nutrients, sprout rapidly. The buds are harvested right at the moment this happens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSnow Orchid teas will only turn out balanced if they have come from high mountains; Low mountain versions are fragrant, but thin, and have very high caffeine content. This one comes from Baishuihu village, on the southern foothills of Wudong and the main peak of Phoenix Mountain, at an elevation of 2500ft. It is the recognized birthplace of the Honey Orchid varietal, and continues to produce the finest Honey Orchid oolongs in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaishuihu village is just off the main road that leads to Wudong's summit; the path into the village remains a rugged trail, and the remote ecological environment is excellent for tea trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe south-facing foothills of Wudong are considered the finest tea-growing terrain outside the main peak. They are shrouded in fog, with dense vegetation. The temperature variation and diffused light here are key factors in producing a successful Snow Orchid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven in perfect terrain, Baishuihu Snow Orchid is not available every year, as it depends entirely on the weather. At the end of 2025, the high Phoenix mountains were extremely cold and dry. At the beginning of spring there was a great deal of fog, so temperatures warmed quickly without a cold snap. This fleeting stretch of weather provided excellent conditions for early spring varietals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Snow Orchid was picked in early March, slow-roasted twice over gentle charcoal fire, and finished by early April. After resting for a month its fragrance is crisp and complex, its honey notes are prominent, and it actively draws saliva from under the tongue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis seasonal phenomenon grants us a delicate experience of the Honey Orchid varietal. It is more austere and less weighty than traditional winter or spring harvests, and is fascinatingly warming and refreshing, at once. This is exactly what we would want a tea to be during transit, or through fluctuating conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":52142481703192,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260602_Cultivate_0834_WEB.jpg?v=1781106643"}],"url":"https:\/\/cultivatetea.com\/collections\/oolong\/flavour-fruity.oembed","provider":"Cultivate Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}