Notes of crème brulée, parsnip, and Flemish red ale.

Aged oolong tea from Taiwan・1982・陳年佛手烏龍

While Buddha’s Hand has been a feature of the Song Collection for many seasons, this 40-year-old rendition is a more traditional version of this slowly disappearing cultivar. Buddha’s Hand is so named for its unusually large leaves which, when harvested, can span the length of a person’s hand. Originally from Fujian’s Yong Chun County, cuttings arrived in Taiwan along with Han settlers who planted these trees on Wenshan, one of earliest tea-producing regions on the island, just east of present-day Taipei.

Wenshan has since succumbed to urban sprawl, and few tea gardens remain in the area. Indeed, the garden where this Aged Buddha’s Hand was harvested and crafted is now gone, the family relocating to Alishan where they continue to produce our current Buddha’s Hand and Ruby oolongs. This Aged Buddha’s Hand differs from its modern counterpart in its distinct twisted-leaf style, an older oolong craftsmanship method that has fallen to the wayside in favor of the rolled or pearled style.

Aged Buddha’s Hand is arrestingly aromatic, much like the current harvests, with a rich, chocolate black brew. The differences lie in the decades of undisturbed aging, that have rounded the texture of the tea, deepening the flavors and unearthing layers of complexity. We’ve spent hours taking these leaves through multiple infusions, teasing out the loamy opening notes of parsnip and burnt sugar, and enjoying the aged-instilled, sour Flemish ale tanginess of its finish.

Brew: 5 grams・150 ml・208° F・1.5 min

Inspired 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 the collection's signature canisters.