Spring Harvest Laoshan Green (2015)

"Laoshan’s spring harvests are beautifully creamy teas with the sweetness of oat cereal and vanilla soy milk…"

The He family leads a farmer’s cooperative devoted to fully organic farming methods and traditional hand picking. Their tea, grown between the slopes of Taoist holy Mountain Laoshan and the ocean is shaded by mist helping it grow sweet and rich.

Mr. He pushes the whole village in innovation, constantly working to grow better and better tea, not only sharing his techiques with fellow farmers but investing in equipment for the whole cooperative. His devotion to the land is unwavering, resulting in what we think is one of the absolute finest green teas in the world.

The aroma of his Spring 2015 harvest is potent and rich like fresh matcha powder. The first steeping is supremely creamy and smooth, a testament to the perfect buds and leaves used and Mr. He’s skill in crafting tea. The flavor is bright and energetically green like fresh sugar snap peas and steamed edamame. The chloryphl-packed flavor is accented by a buttery and malty texture that is almost like toast or toasted wild rice.

The tea unfolds with nuanced and sweet vegetal notes like butter lettuce. The way the flavor bursts on the palate makes us think of what celery would taste like as a sorbet on a hot day. This potent rich spring harvest is a testament to the quality of teas coming out of Laoshan Village.

DATE OF PICKING:
April 20th, 2015

LOCATION OF PICKING:
Ocean-facing slope of Laoshan Mountain in Laoshan Village, Shandong Province He Family Farm 15-20 acre plot fed by the mountain spring running down from the rock face of Laoshan.

WHAT WAS PICKED:
Young leaf material with buds, wilted in bamboo baskets, dried over a carefully tended wood fire and curled.

SOURCING AGENT:
Mr. He of Laoshan Village selects this batch of leaves as an ideal picking to show off the best his cooperative can offer.