Ruan Zhi Oolong Tea from Myanmar

What's so special about this tea?

This oolong tea comes from a small village nestled in the mountainous region of Gongming, in Shan State, Myanmar. It's an emerging region that's beginning to attract the attention of tea enthusiasts. Its mountainous setting, altitude, and surrounding forests create a cool, humid microclimate ideal for tea cultivation. The garden sits at approximately 1,300 meters above sea level, right on the border with Yunnan, China.

It is made with the Ruan Zhi cultivar (TRES No. 17), selecting one bud and three leaves, hand-picked in April 2024 by a local family who have been working for a decade to improve tea quality. Their cultivation and processing methods are influenced by Taiwanese techniques. This batch has a light oxidation, around 20%, and a gentle roast that enhances its creamy character.

When infused, it releases aromas of milk pudding, pandan, and Golden Delicious apple. The infusion displays a vibrant yellow hue, with a profile that combines honeyed and aromatic notes with custard, ginkgo nuts, nectarine, and pine nuts. It has a smooth, creamy texture and leaves a pleasant mouthfeel, standing out among lightly oxidized oolongs.