{"title":"Si Fang Cha","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInspired by the intimate supper clubs of the Song Dynasty, Sifang Cha, our private room tea, is a small series of exquisite teas for special occasions.\u003c\/span\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"charcoal-roasted-formosa-tea","title":"Formosa Rougui, Charcoal Roast","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003eNotes of coconut candy, black sesame, and lychee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eOolong tea from Taiwan・April 2022・台灣肉桂烏龍・Unsprayed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis year’s iteration of Formosa Rougui underwent rounds of layered charcoal roasting, producing a tea that is darker and deeper than its predecessor, yet more restrained. This duality is the result of two tea makers, each skilled in their craft, combining efforts to create a rougui grown and crafted in Taiwan, with the all the hallmarks of a yancha from Wuyishan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe base tea hails from a small tea garden in Ping Lin we discovered in 2019. Located east of Taipei, the region is most well-known for Wenshan Baozhong, a twisted leaf, mildly oxidized green oolong. Cup after cup of this somewhat predictable cultivar left us listless until one tea maker led us through his gardens to a small copse of young tea trees he’d planted just ten years before. Here we found Formosa Rougui, a nearly unheard-of variety in Taiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur first taste of this Taiwanese-grown rougui remains one of our most treasured tea experiences. Thick and creamy, evocative of rougui from the Wuyishan Ecological Preserve in Fujian yet with floral and fruit notes inherent to Taiwanese oolongs, it was precisely the kind of unusual combination of flavors and character that we look for in our collection. While our initial Formosa Rougui release was baked in-house, we elected to have this year’s crop charcoal finished by a master roaster. Mr. Li’s experience spans not only Taiwanese teas but also draw from the traditions of mainland Wuyi yanchas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt took over three months to achieve the level of depth Mr. Li desired for these leaves. Round upon round of roasting created a rich lacquer of flavor and depth, each layer of charcoal paired with an extended period of rest, preventing the dark roast from ever descending into notes acrid or cloying. This level of attention paid off in spades; over 4-5 brews, the flavors and character of the tea are incredibly consistent, with a depth that mirrors a classic Chinese wuyi oolong and a sweet, clearly defined structure inherent to Taiwanese-style oolongs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe cultivar’s journey from Wuyishan to northeastern Taiwan is highlighted in its transformation. From twisted to rolled, earthen to floral, these leaves demonstrate the best of both cultures in one transcendent cup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFormosa Rougui is packed in 100gram (3.5 ounce) vacuum sealed bricks. Tea ships in imported Si Fang Cha canisters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"brew-summary\"\u003eBrew: 6 grams・150 ml・208° F・2 min\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the intimate supper clubs of the Song Dynasty, Sifang Cha is a small series of exquisite teas for special occasions. Each tea is carefully packed in hand-made canisters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"100g canister","offer_id":43783041253589,"sku":"sfc-0006-gc-100g","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"100g refill (sans canister)","offer_id":43783041286357,"sku":"sfc-0006-rf-100g","price":98.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/sfc-frg-1.jpg?v=1729031572"},{"product_id":"buddhas-hand-winter-sprout","title":"Buddha's Hand Winter Sprout","description":"\u003cp class=\"product-notes\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tea-summary\"\u003eAged oolong tea from Taiwan・1982・陳年佛手烏龍\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoung, yet surprisingly mature, Buddha’s Hand Winter Sprout comes in just below the 10-year threshold of what we typically consider the turning point of an aged tea. Perhaps it’s the tea’s chilly harvest season, or the expressive Buddha’s Hand cultivar, or perhaps the initial crafting was particularly conducive to the process of aging. Regardless, what this Buddha’s Hand Winter Sprout lacks in years is more than made up for in character and depth, brewing a stunning, layered cup of tea that rivals leaves thrice its age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe’ve been on a long journey to find the ideal Buddha’s Hand. The cultivar has become increasingly difficult to source in Taiwan, with the predominant Buddha’s Hand region on the southern end of the island erring towards teas that are more astringent than we like. This particular cache was grown in Nantou County, and came to our attention during a friendly tea drinking and tea making afternoon with friends. The maker shared a brew of this Buddha’s Hand with no real intention of selling it, but we were smitten from the start. The scant 68 catties we were able to acquire are wonderfully fruit-forward, an unusual characteristic for aged teas. This along with sweetly condensed candy notes and those of bright orange blossoms mark a tea decidedly rich and exciting to brew, and presents an arresting contrast to our 1982 Buddha’s Hand found here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBuddha's Hand Winter Sprout is packed in 60gram vacuum sealed packages. Tea ships in imported Si Fang Cha canisters, or as sealed refill packs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the intimate supper clubs of the Song Dynasty, Sifang Cha is a small series of exquisite teas for special occasions. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEach tea is carefully packed in the collection's signature canisters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Song Tea","offers":[{"title":"60g canister","offer_id":49901403766997,"sku":"sfc-0008-gc-60g","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"60g refill (sans canister)","offer_id":49901403799765,"sku":"sfc-0008-rf-60g","price":108.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1728\/6899\/files\/sfc-bhws-1.jpg?v=1729030758"}],"url":"https:\/\/songtea.mom\/collections\/si-fang-cha-private-room-tea.oembed","provider":"Song Tea \u0026 Ceramics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}