Farmer's Choice Baozhong 2026 Spring
Baozhong is fragrant, open leaf oolong on the green side of the spectrum. Leaves are long and spindly. Our Farmer's Choice version is made with an old fashioned cultivar called 'Man Zhong' that has a unique fruity-savory taste, and is oxidized a bit deeper than more common Baozhong cultivars. The garden is healthy and tranquil, located in the mountains above Pinglin on public forestland that requires some hiking to get to. It is rich with biodiversity, all kinds of spiders and insects as well as native plants.
This Baozhong is made by the Chen family in Pinglin, with whom we've had the pleasure of working with for more than 20 years. Master Chen, the patriarch, was born into a family of rice farmers and switched to tea when he was 17. He is a delightful, hard working and upbeat man. His son who has now taken over the family trade inherited his optimism, his good nature and his curious mind. Their family does every step of the processing in house (instead of outsourcing as is a more common practice).
Farmer's Choice is like the golden retriever of green oolongs. It is a people pleaser, it is bold in flavor and has a cheery, fresh profile. Broth brews up a rich golden color, too. Aroma is less floral than other Taiwanese teas, and generally more like sweet smelling plants - like the sweet smell of a humid forest, not grassy at all. In the high register I always notice hints of pineapple. Overall it just has big flavor, and is exceptionally easy to brew.
This tea holds a special place in our hearts, as it reminds us of the lush vegetation and sultry weather of Pinglin. It also has some power behind it, and thus tends to age well - usually tasting even better 6 months to a year (and beyond) after the harvest date. It’s forgiving of brewing equipment, and works just as well grandpa style or ‘Western style’ as it does gongfu style. It also does great cold brewed.
When people ask me where to start with oolong tea, this is often my first choice.
Facts
- Harvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan
- Harvest Date : April, 2026
- Cultivar : Man Zhong
- Farming Method : Sustainable