{"title":"Grass","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\" author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003eThese teas are fresh, bright, and verdant: ranging in character from fern, to more balsamic and herbaceous notes like pine, spruce, or myrtle. \u003c\/span\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"white-dragonwell-tea","title":"White Dragonwell","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003eNotes of chrysanthemum, gingko nut, and marshmallow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eGreen tea from Zhejiang, China・April 2025・白龍井・Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2026 Harvest available soon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite Dragonwell’s unusual name refers to this tea’s cultivar, which yields brilliant green leaves with a whitish down. It is closely related to a rare green tea called Anji Baicha (or Anji White Tea). The buds are small and boast wonderful fruit and floral notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat particularly distinguishes this tea is its source garden. At 1200m, the garden is in northern Zhejiang Province, less than an hour drive from Thousand Island Lake. It is remote, accessible via a single path that meanders through rows of loosely clustered tea plants. Limited infrastructure results in these plants being effectively dry-farmed. The region’s remoteness and elevation produce beautiful tea plants and perfect leaf buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the seventh year we’ve sourced White Dragonwell from this tea garden. The northerly latitude and higher elevation of this garden mean the harvest is later to sprout, and sprouts more sporadically than lower elevation gardens. Because of this, our method for selecting this tea is to cup several pickings - some earlier, and some later - and select the one that best combines the textural, aromatic, and taste properties that we look for in our teas. We are not necessarily tied to arbitrary date and time stamps, relying instead on the quality and character of the tea to guide our selection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are 30,000 buds in 500g of tea. Each batch was carefully roasted in 3 stages. First, the tea was fired to stop further enzymatic breakdown; it was then pressed and shaped, and finally pan-roasted to dry. The entire production process took 40 minutes to complete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finished result is sublime. To cup this tea is to experience a green that will reset your expectations of what quality is for a green tea. The texture is incredible; luscious and viscous, while at the same time, delicate and bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003eBrew: 3 grams・150 ml・185° F・1 min\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003eFew Dragonwells have the same round texture as this harvest. Our brew guidelines, followed strictly, will produce a tea that best expresses this tea's texture and mouth feel. We suggest pre-warming the tea brewing vessel, but avoid rinsing the leaves themselves. Instead, slowly pour water onto the leaves to ensure that each leaf is properly pre-moistened.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":12303457091672,"sku":"g-0010-30g","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":12303457124440,"sku":"g-0010-60g","price":98.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":12303457157208,"sku":"g-0010-120g","price":196.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"240g pouch","offer_id":12303457189976,"sku":"g-0010-240g","price":392.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 60g","offer_id":12303457222744,"sku":"g-0010-gc-60g","price":102.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Single brew | 3g","offer_id":43175051886805,"sku":"g-0010-single-3g","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/g-0010-wdw_1.jpg?v=1568795883"},{"product_id":"snow-jasmine","title":"Snow Jasmine","description":"\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSnow Jasmine was named for the pale white down that coats these leaves, resembling fresh snowfall. The base green tea is Gan Lu, or sweet dew, from Mengding Shan in Sichuan. Young leaf buds were hand picked in early spring, pan roasted, finished, and stored until summer jasmine season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA jasmine tea is only as good as its constituent parts. The base tea must have enough character to stand up to scenting while remaining sweet and smooth. The flowers used to scent the tea should be intense but not overwhelming, sweet but not cloying. Our Snow Jasmine strikes a balanced harmony between tea and flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScenting is completed in small batches. An initial low temperature baking dries the tea, and a fresh layer of jasmine flowers is scattered over the leaves. The dry tea absorbs the residual moisture and aromatic oils from the flowers overnight, and the flowers are fanned off the next morning. The tea is baked again, and the process is repeated. In total, Snow Jasmine received 5 rounds of jasmine scenting, resulting in a sweet and intensely aromatic tea with wispy leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003eBrew Snow Jasmine as a Gan Lu, albeit at a slightly higher temperature. The resulting tea yields a buttery, round texture whose complexity belies its delicacy. The trick are short steeps that begin with a pre-warmed vessel and slow additional of water in a gradual stream. Brew covered.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":12303454634072,"sku":"g-0009-30g","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":12303454666840,"sku":"g-0009-60g","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":12303454699608,"sku":"g-0009-120g","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"240g pouch","offer_id":12303454732376,"sku":"g-0009-240g","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 60g","offer_id":12303454765144,"sku":"g-0009-gc-60g","price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single brew | 3g","offer_id":43175082459349,"sku":"g-0009-single-3g","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/g-0009_1.jpg?v=1621984652"},{"product_id":"huang-mudan","title":"Huang Mudan","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003eNotes of marigold, pineapple, and fresh peppercorn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eGreen tea from Fujian, China・April 2025・黃牡丹・Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2026 Harvest available soon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuang Mudan is a return to our roots, and a reminder of what drives us to continue sourcing tea year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Huang Mudan or Yellow Peony cultivar was developed and released by the Wuyi Tea Research Institute over a decade and a half ago. On average, a new planting takes a minimum of 4-5 years before the tea leaves mature enough to be picked. 2013 marked not only our first collection at Song, but coincided with the first year of full commercial production in this tea garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom our 2013 description of this tea, “It takes a visionary producer to build a wholly organic tea garden around a new cultivar, and to continue investing in that garden through the five years it takes for the tea plant to mature. We like working with visionaries.” Little has changed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn April, the tea fields where this tea is grown is washed in beautiful shades of gold and green. During harvesting, the hand-picked chartreuse colored leaf buds were spread on woven bamboo mats to wither in the shade. After withering, the leaf buds were pan-roasted: briefly at a high temperature to arrest enzymatic breakdown and set the green, and then a longer lower temperature roasting to shape and dry the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finished tea buds have the appearance of golden spears. Rehydrated, these spears unfurl into strikingly beautiful tender leaf buds with a tea liquor the color of pale corn silk. The mouth feel is clean, but there is complexity in its simplicity and the length of its finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocated an hour's drive south of Fuding, this remote garden grows from mineral rich soil, and its proximity to the coast ensured a high degree of moisture. While the elevation, at 600-700 meters above sea level is not high for a tea garden, the climate in the area mimics the cooler, higher elevation areas around Fuding County.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the most experimental gardens we’ve visited in Fujian in terms of new cultivars and organic stewardship methods. The garden uses a mix of mechanical, and electronic methods for pest control – although the most important, and one that Huang Mudan benefits from the most – is early leaf bud harvesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003eBrew: 4 grams・150 ml・180° F・1 min\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003eHuang Mudan does allow for range in brewing. A short brew produces sweet clean flavors, but we suggest a longer brew of a minute and a half, which produces a richness and complexity. Alternatively, brew in a pre-warmed glass with a small amount of leaves. For this method, reduce the dose to 3 grams of tea leaves per 180ml of 180F water. Allow the leaves to slowly settle as they rehydrate and simply sip directly from the cup.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":20566122889304,"sku":"g-0004-30g","price":44.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":20566122922072,"sku":"g-0004-60g","price":84.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":20566122954840,"sku":"g-0004-120g","price":168.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"240g pouch","offer_id":20566122987608,"sku":"g-0004-240g","price":336.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 60g","offer_id":20566123020376,"sku":"g-0004-gc-60g","price":88.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Single brew | 4g","offer_id":43175069253845,"sku":"g-0004-single-4g","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/g-0004-hmd_1.jpg?v=1569159269"},{"product_id":"gold-guanyin","title":"Gold Guanyin","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003eNotes of osmanthus, dried lemon, and honeysuckle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eWhite tea from Fujian, China・April 2023・金觀音・Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGold Guanyin, or jin guanyin, is a hybrid cultivar originally developed in Fujian’s Anxi province, created from grafted branches of huang jin gui on existing tieguanyin plants. The hybrid is meant to combine the gardenia and cream notes of tieguanyin with the fruit-like osmanthus notes of huang jin gui.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough originally intended for lighter oolongs, we had this cultivar made into a white tea, allowing the leaves to gently wither for 30 hours. Slow dehydration draws forth a round sweetness that is accentuated by the cultivar's innate floral qualities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2023 harvest returns to the original intent of this tea, without the unintended (but welcomed) higher oxidation of the 2022 batch. This new harvest retains the complex aromatics of last year's batch, with distinct oolong aromatics of osmanthus, dried lemon, and honeysuckle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003eBrew: 4 grams・150 ml・205° F・1 min\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003eWe suggest similar brew parameters for all white teas, using water that ranges between 195 - 208F, with a starting steep time of 1 minute. Extend steep time for larger volumes. A shorter steep time at lower temperatures produces a very bright and floral tea. Longer steep times and higher temperatures increases complexity and finish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":33401330303064,"sku":"w-0010-30g","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":33401330368600,"sku":"w-0010-60g","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":33401330401368,"sku":"w-0010-120g","price":72.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 30g","offer_id":33401330466904,"sku":"w-0010-gc-30g","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single brew | 4g","offer_id":43175122010325,"sku":"w-0010-single-4g","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/goldguanyin_1_89cce378-4adf-4066-80d3-6c1a3ff3bc4c.jpg?v=1607403530"},{"product_id":"huang-jin-cha","title":"Huangjin Cha","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003eNotes of sweet corn, heart of palm, and artichoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eGreen tea from Hunan, China・March 2025・保靖黃金茶・Unsprayed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2026 Harvest available soon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuangjin Cha is a green tea that we originally sourced for Volume two of our Founder’s Collection. Now, as then, this tea is quite difficult to acquire. With a complex and aromatic profile, it’s not difficult to see why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHunan’s reputation as a tea-producing region is often eclipsed by its neighbors to the east and west. But this is old tea country, and little known regions can at times harbor strange and unusual treasures. Legends from the Ming and Qing dynasties tell of an old Miao woman who healed a traveler with these very leaves and was repaid in gold, giving this venerable tea its name, Huangjin, which translates in English to gold. The name is appropriate, as this tea is indeed a treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown in Baojing County, Northwestern Hunan, Huangjin Cha is crafted from a grove of centuries-old trees. Much like Wuyishan Ecological park, these tea trees are indigenous to the region, with records dating as far back as the 1300s. The region is hot and humid - the kind of heat that makes the air taste green - and gives Huang Jin Cha a certain weight and richness on the palate unlike other green teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuangjin Cha is a layered brew. It is bold, yet perfectly balanced in a way that invites exploration of its complex aromatic and flavor profiles. Brewed, it carries a bouquet of floral and fruit notes that are more reminiscent of high mountain oolongs than green teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dry leaves smell of summer corn, while the liquor has the crisp sweetness of heart of palm, and the dark verdancy of artichoke. These notes are teased out over several steeps - as the tea reveals itself through multiple umami-rich layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003eBrew: 3 grams・150 ml・180° F・1 min\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003eThis is a complex green tea that invites experimentation with different steep times. Progressively adding 30 seconds to each brew yields deeper and more complex finishes - without adding too much astringency.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":40527970336953,"sku":"g-0020-30g","price":72.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":40527970369721,"sku":"g-0020-60g","price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":40527970402489,"sku":"g-0020-120g","price":280.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 30g","offer_id":40527970468025,"sku":"g-0020-gc-30g","price":76.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Single brew | 3g","offer_id":43175038714069,"sku":"g-0020-single-3g","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/g_huangjincha1.jpg?v=1626829050"},{"product_id":"wild-gongmei-white-tea","title":"Wild Gongmei","description":"\u003cp\u003eWild Gongmei is a foraged tea from eastern Fujian Province, an hour southwest of Wuyishan near the border of Jiangxi. It is one of a pair of teas we used to launch the first issue of Founder’s Collection, Volume 02.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea itself is a bit of a mystery. These tea plants do not have a specific cultivar name. It is called a cai cha by the Fujianese, a term that refers to a local area’s common tea. Each region has its own cai cha, but while most are crafted as green teas, Wild Gongmei has historically been crafted as a white tea. It’s name is also a bit of a misnomer. In the tea world, “gong mei” refers not to a specific variety, but rather to late harvest white teas. In contrast, our Wild Gongmei is picked early, and has a high proportion of buds to leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe added the wild qualifier to this tea’s name because this tea was foraged from small untended groves scattered across the region. In early April, seasoned tea pickers travel from grove to grove, slowly accumulating tea leaves from petit, wild growing trees to craft this tea. The gathered leaves are processed using centuries-old techniques of white teas; air-dried outdoors under partial shade. This step takes longer than modern processes that rely on indoor fans, and is both finicky and labor intensive. But the results can be worthwhile. Naturally air-dried leaves oxidize slowly, and this gradual process develops flavor and complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis combination of wild foraged leaves and traditional craftsmanship creates an unusually lively white tea. Rich and deep, Wild Gongmei is reminiscent of lilac and honeysuckle flowers and defies expectations of a standard white tea. But Gongmei’s profile is actually more traditional than standard market whites, falling closely in line with white teas of yore, whose wildcrafted leaves, and small production sizes more fully expressed the innate aromatic character of the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":40591993143481,"sku":"w-0011-30g","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":40591993176249,"sku":"w-0011-60g","price":42.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":40591993209017,"sku":"w-0011-120g","price":84.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 30g","offer_id":40591993274553,"sku":"w-0011-gc-30g","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single brew | 4g","offer_id":43175207403733,"sku":"w-0011-single-4g","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/products\/w_wildgongmei_1.jpg?v=1627483053"},{"product_id":"cai-cha-green-tea","title":"Cai Cha","description":"\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2026 Harvest available soon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery tea region grows some variation of cai cha. The name refers to any number of unnamed native tea cultivars whose leaves are typically fashioned into a simple, everyday tea at origin. It’s customary for these plants to be harvested in late spring when the leaves are fullest, maximizing yields. But relegating cai cha to merely a quotidian tea undermines its potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis garden is home to centuries-old trees, and this, coupled with Hunan’s heat and humidity, gives the fresh leaves a weight and richness rare in green teas. Contrary to tradition, we harvested these leaves early on in the season, as the plants had just begun to bud, capturing the vibrancy of a young green tea alongside the leaves’ more mature qualities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn turn this cai cha reflects the best of both growing conditions, harvest date, and craftsmanship, elevating a humble tea to new heights.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":48299516395733,"sku":"g-0024-60g","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":48299516428501,"sku":"g-0024-120g","price":56.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"240g pouch","offer_id":48299516461269,"sku":"g-0024-240g","price":116.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 60g","offer_id":48299516494037,"sku":"g-0024-gc-60g","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Single brew | 4g","offer_id":48299516526805,"sku":"g-0024-single-4g","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/g-0024-cai-cha-1.jpg?v=1719967659"},{"product_id":"lishan-winter-sprout-oolong-tea","title":"Lishan Winter Sprout","description":"\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003eWinter sprout teas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m s-lparen\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m h-lparen\"\u003e(as\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e opposed to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m s-ldquo\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z h-ldquo\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m h-ldquo\"\u003ewinter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e harvest” teas,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e which are\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e confusingly named and picked in the late fall)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e are the only oolongs picked in the winter. Unlike their spring and winter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e harvest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e counterparts, winter sprout\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003es are\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003edecidedly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003efinicky, requir\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e a se\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eries\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e of\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e weather\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e factors to occur in near perfect sequence: a warm temperatures or a brief warm snap in early winter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z s-lparen\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z h-lparen\"\u003e(November\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e through early December) that triggers the leaves to bud and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003ea \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003esubsequent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e significant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e temperature drop that forces the young sprouts to develop under extremely cold conditions. T\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eogether, these factors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eforce the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e the tea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e plants to store sugar in their extremities\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003ethus \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003ethickening the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003e membrane of the tea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e leaves to protect them from winter’s cold. Because tea trees hold less water in the winter time, the flavor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003es of winter sprout teas are\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003extra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-4z65zz66zl57z75zyiz66zfr2fz87zwz89znuj9p2bz85zz88z6h4z70z3wkiz87zkq2z68zryhwl6j4bz71z\"\u003e concentrated and distinct.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eThis year, winter transitioned to spring without holding on as long as it had last year. But overall colder temperatures delivered the same richness and complexity as the previous year's tea. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan class=\"author-d-1gg9uz65z1iz85zgdz68zmqkz84zo2qoxwexwz73zbz66zz75zdunw9z76zz85zz72zmchz67zz75zz81zz89z3z75zxz69zq74m\"\u003eThe result is a leaf that has all the necessary components for an extraordinary tea: one with superlative body, rich floral characteristics and sweetness, without a hint of astringency or bitterness. Withered indoors, followed by long, low-temperature oxidation over ten hours, the fresh tea leaves are then gently rolled to bruise the leaves. A second, shorter oxidation period is followed by a final round of bruising, rolling and roasting to finish the tea. Brewed, Lishan Winter Sprout balances the verdant green flavors of springtime with a pillowy texture and arresting viscosity, unfurling in flavor and aroma as the leaves slowly open.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-detail\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":51576919687381,"sku":"o-0053-30g","price":46.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":51576919720149,"sku":"o-0053-60g","price":84.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":51576919752917,"sku":"o-0053-120g","price":168.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"240g pouch","offer_id":51576919785685,"sku":"o-0053-240g","price":336.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kraft canister \/ 60g","offer_id":51576919818453,"sku":"o-0053-gc-60g","price":88.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single brew \/ 6g","offer_id":51576919851221,"sku":"g-0053-single-6g","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/o-latewintersprout1.jpg?v=1749769543"},{"product_id":"lishan-green-heart","title":"Lishan Green Heart","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same cultivar as our Green Heart oolong from the 2024 collection, this year’s iteration moves even higher in elevation, from Shan Lin Xi up to the heights of the Lishan mountains in central Taiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch lofty elevations have a distinct effect on the nature of a tea’s leaves. Above 1000m, plants mature more slowly, allowing sugars to accumulate in the leaves and sweeten the tea, and the unique weather patterns of these alpine gardens with their clear, sunny mornings increases the development of flavor compounds in the leaves that are then locked in with the afternoon’s incoming mists and dropping temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don’t usually put much emphasis on the elevations our teas are grown, choosing instead to focus on the artistry of tea making post-harvest, where skilled craftspeople can transform, emphasize, or unearth qualities of sweetness, flavor, and depth through controlled oxidation, firing temperatures, or deep, caramelizing roasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMinimally crafted teas, however, like green teas and green oolongs, maintain their “close to the bush” qualities. In these cases, the onus of great tea making shifts from the craftsman to the garden and gardener. With just the lightest of charcoal bakes to set the flavor and preserve the tea, Lishan Green Heart is an incredibly clear example of the phenomenon of high elevation tea growing, echoing the flora of high alpine regions, with notes of pine and spruce and wild flower, and brewing with a verdant sweetness and the thick, creamy texture of a classic high mountain oolong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g pouch","offer_id":51598672855253,"sku":"o-0052-30g","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g pouch","offer_id":51598672888021,"sku":"o-0052-60g","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g pouch","offer_id":51598672920789,"sku":"o-0052-120g","price":104.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White Kraft Canister | 60g","offer_id":51598672953557,"sku":"o-0052-gc-60g","price":56.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Single brew | 6g","offer_id":51598672986325,"sku":"o-0052-single-6g","price":11.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/o-lishangreenheart1.jpg?v=1750126531"},{"product_id":"japanese-matcha-tea-kirari-31","title":"Kirari 31 Matcha","description":"\u003cp\u003eTime can move slowly in Japan. Reverence for the past means innovations in heritage practices seem, at times, an exception, with craftsman eschewing tradition in pursuit of new and experimental conventions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea making has been a primary trade in the Tsukigase region of Nara for millennia. But sencha has long been the main crop in this area, until an 11th generation tea farmer recognized this rich, red soiled earth, fed by hillside streams and protected by a copse of larger trees, as prime ground for cultivating tencha (the base green tea from which matcha is ground), challenging decades of tradition and gambling on two new cultivars of the Saemidori pollen plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKirari 31 is one of this tea maker’s first experiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees of these Kirari 31 tea plants are in their first years of harvest, planted a mere 6 years ago. Tsukigase is subject to extreme temperature changes from morning to evening during the spring harvest season, a boon for the natural sugars accumulating in the leaves, but a phenomenon that can leave new buds vulnerable to sun damage and callusing. To mitigate this, each tightly planted row plants is wrapped in thick tarping after the last of the new buds appear on the trees, protecting these delicate leaves from direct sunlight and maintaining their tender structure up until harvest, about 25 days later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePost-harvest, these leaves are steamed in a brick oven, a slow process that accommodates just 20kg of tea per hour. Following this kill green, veins and stems are removed, leaving just the most tender elements of the leaf to be ground into fine matcha powder. This final element is only done at the very last moment, to prevent excess oxidation and keep the flavor of the tea vibrant and fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final product is a matcha with youthful vivacity, brewing as brightly as its name suggests (Kirari 31 is a play on words translating to “a momentary flash of light”). This delicious Japanese matcha green tea is beautifully presented in a 20g paulownia wood box, or available as a refill pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn storage: Ground matcha has considerable surface area and poses a risk of inadvertent oxidization. Please refrigerate while not in use. Allow package to come to room temperature before preparing. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"20g Canister","offer_id":52156699181269,"sku":"m-0003-20g","price":58.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g Refill (sans canister)","offer_id":52156699214037,"sku":"m-0003-refill-20g","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/kiari_box1.jpg?v=1779559046"},{"product_id":"seimei-japanese-matcha","title":"Seimei Matcha","description":"\u003cp\u003eTime can move slowly in Japan. Reverence for the past means innovations in heritage practices seem, at times, an exception, with craftsman eschewing tradition in pursuit of new and experimental conventions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea making has been a primary trade in the Tsukigase region of Nara for millennia. But sencha has long been the main crop in this area, until an 11th generation tea farmer recognized this rich, red soiled earth, fed by hillside streams and protected by a copse of larger trees, as prime ground for cultivating tencha (the base green tea from which matcha is ground), challenging decades of tradition and gambling on two new cultivars of the Saemidori pollen plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeimei, along with Kirari 31, is one of this tea maker’s first experiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees of the Matcha Seimei tea plants are in their first years of harvest, planted a mere 5 years ago. Tsukigase is subject to extreme temperature changes from morning to evening during the spring harvest season, a boon for the natural sugars accumulating in the leaves, but a phenomenon that can leave new buds vulnerable to sun damage and callusing. To mitigate this, each tightly planted row plants is wrapped in thick tarping after the last of the new buds appear on the trees, protecting these delicate leaves from direct sunlight and maintaining their tender structure up until harvest, about 25 days later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePost-harvest, these leaves are steamed in a brick oven, a slow process that accommodates just 20kg of tea per hour. Following this kill green, veins and stems are removed, leaving just the most tender elements of the leaf to be ground into fine matcha powder. This final element is only done at the very last moment, to prevent excess oxidation and keep the flavor of the tea vibrant and fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final product showcases a maturity of flavor and character that belies its youth. Freshly whisked, this ground matcha lingers on the palate, revealing depths in character and flavor that continue long after each sip. This delicious Japanese matcha green tea is beautifully presented in a 20g paulownia wood box, or available as a refill pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn storage: Ground matcha has considerable surface area and poses a risk of inadvertent oxidization. Please refrigerate while not in use. Allow package to come to room temperature before preparing. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"20g Canister","offer_id":52157315612885,"sku":"m-0004-20g","price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20g Refill (sans canister)","offer_id":52157315645653,"sku":"m-0004-refill-20g","price":62.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/seimei_box1.jpg?v=1779559097"}],"url":"https:\/\/songtea.mom\/collections\/grass-tasting-teas.oembed","provider":"Song Tea \u0026 Ceramics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}