{"title":"The Tea Wanderer's Pick","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"old-grove-jin-jun-mei-golden-brows","title":"Old Grove Jin Jun Mei \"Golden Brows\" Black Tea 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eOld Grove Jin Jun Mei \"Golden Brows\" 老丛金骏眉\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eType: Black Tea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eRegion: Wuyi Mountains, Fujian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eHarvest: 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eRoast: Traditional\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eInitial: Propolis and Cocoa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eBody: Dried Dark Red Fruit \u0026amp; Fermented Glutinous Rice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eFinish: Dark Chocolate \u0026amp; Sugary Sweetness \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eThis is my interpretation of Jin Jun Mei \"Golden Brows\" black tea. I was able to secure this year's harvest of fresh picked buds from an old grove of trees from a secluded garden near Tong Mu Guan \"Paulownia Pass\" - the place and origin of the very first black teas. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eThe buds selected was short and plump, much thicker than the usual native cultivars \"Cai Cha aka garden varietal\", which makes it an excellent material to withstand traditional crating techniques that requires more vigorous tossing, rolling, and heating. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eThis was a truly labor intensive tea, using only the highest standard of tiny young buds. Each tea tree only sprouts a scant handful of buds each spring, making these kinds of tea very limited. A single pound of tea consists of tens of thousands of buds. After crafting and drying, the remaining count is a fraction of what we started with.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eThe hand picked buds were transformed into tiny golden fur buds using centuries old traditional tea crafting techniques and roasting. I requested my teacher to add layer of charcoal roast to bring out the darker chocolate and cocoa notes. The result is a intoxicating fragranced and remarkably complex black tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eFrom my experience with this tea, it will get better and open up over time in storage as it is still a new harvest. The dried red fruit and fermented sweet glutinous rice in the body will become much more apparent over time. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eThis is a very versatile tea to brew. At hotter temperatures (208 - 210 F) and longer infusions will increase help the tea leaves and flavor unfold.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Tea Wanderer","offers":[{"title":"60 grams","offer_id":49223533003064,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120 grams","offer_id":49223533035832,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"240 grams","offer_id":49223533068600,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/2674\/8984\/files\/IMG_20240908_171119__01.jpg?v=1725950721"},{"product_id":"san-yang-feng-rou-gui","title":"San Yang Feng Rou Gui 2024 (Mid-High Roast)","description":"\u003cp\u003eSan Yang Feng 三仰峰, direct translation into \"Three Peaks of Respect or Worship\", is know to be the highest peak of Mount Wuyi. Because this is a Zheng Yan tea with nutrient rich and well irrigated soil, biodiverse environment, and a high altitude peak; leaves produced from the tea trees from this peak garden has all the desired characteristics of a Yancha\/ Cliff Oolong. This offering I have available is a aromatic Rou Gui that is excellently crafted with a very rich minerally finish. When brewed dark and strong in a small vessel with quick steeps, we can detect more of the volatile ambrosial fruit notes along with hints of herbal grass jelly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne tip and suggestion is to keep a small cup of the first brew and allow it to completely cool. Go back and try it after you finish your tea session. You'll be amazed by the difference you taste from the different temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Initial tasting notes in July of 2024 was of high vertical fragrance that rushes in the nose (akin to that of new Rou Gui).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRevised tasting September 2025. Aromatics starts to soften into a fruity floral and flavor is starting to expand deeper into the liquor\/soup, balanced and tantalizing Yan Yun and sweetness on tongue. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrewing Recommendations:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse less leaves and you'll experience more of the mineral finish; more leaves will bring out the intense aromatics. Remember, especially with Rou Gui, keep steeps short.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRou Gui \"Cassia Bark\" varietal is the most popular choice of varietal in the region right now and can taste vastly different when crafted by different makers or harvested from different mountain gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI highly recommend this Rou Gui and the other ones from different revered gardens in my collection as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a few carefully selected Rou Gui in the collection:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Ma Tou Yan \"Five Horse Cliff\" Rou Gui for a darker roast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Hui Yuan Rou Gui for a taste of True Terrior\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Jiu Long Ke \"Gorge of Nine Dragons\" Rou Gui for a lighter roast \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Tea Wanderer","offers":[{"title":"25 Grams","offer_id":49240233279800,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50 Grams","offer_id":49240233312568,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"100 Grams","offer_id":49240233345336,"sku":"","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"16 Grams","offer_id":51011843162424,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/2674\/8984\/files\/IMG_20240912_151459__01.jpg?v=1726202846"},{"product_id":"hui-yuan-rou-gui","title":"Hui Yuan Rou Gui 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eHighly fragrant and fruity darker roast Rou Gui from the center of the central region. This tea is from the revered garden of Hui Yuan Keng. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of my absolute favorites. I highly recommend this tea to any seasoned tea drinker looking for a tea that keeps on brewing and excel in both fragrance, fruit notes, body, depth, and has that highly sought after Yan Yun \"岩韵“.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Tea Wanderer","offers":[{"title":"8 Grams","offer_id":49240260215096,"sku":"","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/2674\/8984\/files\/IMG_20240912_164311__01.jpg?v=1726203880"},{"product_id":"tong-mu-xiao-zhong","title":"Tong Mu Forest Black Tea 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e正山小种 , aka \"Small Varietal Mountain Proper\", a classic black tea from the Wuyi Mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis black tea is crafted from the local small varietal that grows in Paulownia's Pass, \"Tong Mu Guan\". This protected forest, a biodiverse ecosystem, is know to be the home of the first black tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an unsmoked version, that has a light to medium roast with a sweet body and faint notes of moss, forest, mountain flowers, and longyan fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Tea Wanderer","offers":[{"title":"60 Grams","offer_id":49451528421688,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"120 Grams","offer_id":49451528454456,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/2674\/8984\/files\/IMG_20240912_154316__01.jpg?v=1726205741"}],"url":"https:\/\/teawanderer.com\/collections\/the-tea-wanderers-pick.oembed","provider":"The Tea Wanderer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}