Farmer's Choice Baozhong 2023 Winter
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 a special slow growing cultivar that has a unique fruity-savory taste, and is oxidized a bit more than its Competition Style counterpart. This brings the notes into the realm of fruit rather than the bright flowery bouquet of prize seeking Baozhong.
This Baozhong is made by the Chen family in Pinling, with whom we've had a long relationship that has now followed them into the second generation of tea makers. We have been working with them since 2005. Master Chen, the patriarch of the family, 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. Their family does every step of the processing in house, instead of outsourcing as is common practice.
Nice full bodied taste for a light oolong, the aroma is heavily accented by notes of pineapple and summer squash. Broth is big and juicy in the mouth and has a long, sweet aftertaste. Pleasantly fruity with a round, balanced broth, depending on your taste preferences this could be the only tea you ever need.
We're really enjoying Farmer's Choice after it rests, so if you are fond of this tea, don't be afraid to let it age for a few months or even a year (in its sealed bag of course). This short term aging brings forth more body and richer flavor.
Facts
- Harvest Location : Pinglin, Taiwan
- Harvest Date : November, 2023
- Cultivar : Man Zhong
- Farming Method : Conventional