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

Young, 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.

We’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.

Buddha's Hand Winter Sprout is packed in 60gram vacuum sealed packages. Tea ships in imported Si Fang Cha canisters, or as sealed refill packs.

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.