Thailand Winter Frost Jin Xuan Oolong Tea

A smooth and sweet tasting oolong with a honey and gentle nectarine notes combined with a lingering nut finish. A rarely seen oolong that has been produced outside of the normal harvest season in December, the coldest of month of winter when a frosty mist envelops the tea plants and causes the leaves to brown in reaction to the cold. These unique climatic conditions and the reactions they induce in the leaf, result in creating a Jin Xuan oolong which is quite distinct from its spring form, in particular honey and gentle nectarine notes can be prescribed to the frosty winter conditions. Produced in Northern Thailand in what was once the hub of the 'Golden Triangle', the opium farmers in the 80s abandoned their poppy fields in favour of a more ‘addictive’ crop, tea! The farmers first cultivated wild growing tea plants native to Thailand before in 1994 importing a range of tea plant varietals from Taiwan's famed tea producing region Alishan. Tasting Notes:- Smooth texture- Honey and gentle nectarine taste with a lingering nut finish Harvest: Winter, November 2015Altitude: 1,200-1,800mCultivar: TTES #12 Jin Xuan (Imported from Alishan, Taiwan in 1994), cross between Ying Zhi Hong Xin and TTES #8Origin: Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Province, ThailandSourced: From a specialist Thai wholesaler Brewing Advice:- Heat water to roughly 95°C/203°F- Use 1 teaspoon per cup/small teapot- Brew for 2 minutes Packaging: Resealable ziplock bag