Tea: Golden Peony (Jin Mudan - 金牡丹) Type: Charcoal Roasted Wuyi Rock Oolong Harvest: Spring 2024 Roast Type: Light Region: Wuyi Mountain, Fujian, China Producers: Zhang FamilyTasting Notes: Butter Scotch, Gardenia, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Roses The Jin Mudan, or Golden Peony, is a hybrid of two commonly used oolong varietals: Tieguanyin and Huangjingui. The blending of these two varietals into a new cultivar creates a fragrant-forward and very floral Wuyi Yancha. While Golden Peony sounds like a variant of the White Peony, these teas are not directly related. The warmed leaves give off a light butterscotch aroma mixed with the distinctly floral bouquet of spring roses. When brewed up, the wet leaves remind us of the Gardenia Fragrance Dancong Oolong, while lingering in the back are notes of licorice and tobacco. The liquor is a rich amber which coats the tongue without too much dryness or any noticeable astringency on the sides of the tongue. The taste is syrupy sweet, with notes of deep dark chocolate and candied flowers. As the brews continue, this tea falls into its floral fragrances and complex minerality, offering many sweet and soft infusions. For a full comparison of all our Wuyi Yancha's this year, check out our Wuyi Yancha Sampler!
