Osmanthus Oolong

Description

Osmanthus Oolong – A Wildcrafted Floral Masterpiece

A rare, seasonal oolong from Guizhou, China, Osmanthus Oolong is crafted using traditional methods, free from additives or artificial processing. Harvested from 400–600-year-old Bird King Big Leaf tea trees at 1,200–1,400m, this tea is naturally infused with wild Osmanthus flowers, creating a deeply aromatic and smooth infusion.

Origin & Craftsmanship (drop down for info)

• Single-origin & small batch from Pan Yin Mountain, Guizhou
• Naturally infused with fresh Osmanthus flowers over 2–4 days
• Handcrafted & sustainable, with no fertilizers, flavor additives, or artificial heat

Flavor Profile (drop down for info)

• Sweet & Floral – Rich osmanthus aroma with lingering honeyed notes
• Smooth & Silky – A refreshing, full-bodied mouthfeel
• Long-Lasting – Retains bold flavors for up to 10 steeps

Benefits (drop down for info)

• Balanced caffeine for relaxation and focus
• Rich in antioxidants, supporting overall wellness
• A grounding tea, ideal for slowing down and resetting

Brewing Instructions (drop down for info)

• Water Temperature: 195–205°F (90–96°C)
• Steep Time: 15–30 sec per infusion
• Tea-to-Water Ratio: 4g per 100ml (Gong Fu style)
• Best Brewed In: Gai Wan or small teapot for multiple steeps

Osmathus Oolong applies only traditional methods in the making; this unique tea is 100% seasonal, single origin and small batched. Most of the Osmanthus Black/Oolong, or Jasmine Green Tea produced today are no longer made this way:

No plantation involved: This tea comes from wild & indigenous tea plants and Osmanthus tea trees that uniquely exist in the Guizhou region. 

No multi-origin or multi-grade blending is involved: The tea plants and the Osmanthus trees have been neighbours for centuries, nature’s arrangement brought life to this tea, not the other way around. 

No nasty fertilisers involved – The Osmanthus flowers were collected when they matured and naturally fell from the branches.

No flavour enhancement additives – Fresh Osmanthus flowers layered with autumn Oolong to "sit still" together for 2-4 days when they were at their optimum freshness. 

No artificial heating for speed sake: Tirelessly turning & tossing with minimal heat from the charcoal fire.

No machinery involved: The flowers are handpicked out from the blend. The batch is then roasted again repeatedly. 

The leaves are picked from 400 – 600 year old Bird King Big Leaf 鳥王大葉種 tea trees at 1200-1400m from Pan Yin Mountain (Qian Xi Nan, Guizhou, China).

In general, the Tea Tavern ships products using reused, recyclable, and or biodegradable materials. Grass People Tree also have similar goals when packaging their teas. The tea bags are packaged with paper that is specially-made for tea, biodegradable, and free from bleach and chemicals. It uses loose fibres to protect the teas from moisture and odors to help travel and continuously age well.

Why buy from the Tea Tavern, instead of directly from Grass People Tree? 

The Tea Tavern and Grass People Tree have a partnership due to aligned goals in teaching people about and distributing tea. The Tea Tavern's patrons usually live in the western hemisphere, and Grass People Tree is in the Eastern hemisphere. As a result, patrons of the Tea Tavern will likely have smaller shipping fees; will arrive sooner, due to proximity; and will support the Tea Tavern's brew masters who educate people how to prepare the tea, locally.

Gaiwan Notes: The standard method of brewing can be used, except use of 4 grams of leaves, since wild teas tend to have a stronger, more persistent flavor than most other teas. The tea, in particular, very floral and aromatic.

Notes from Grass People Tree: The taste is Sweet, Floral, and Fragrant. Osmanthus Oolong has been one of our most loved teas, its extraordinary fragrance and mouth feel will take you to experience the abundant, colourful autumn in Guizhou that is impossible to describe with words. Expect a revitalising feast for your nose and mouth, the bold flavours and aromas will remain radiant even after 10 steeps with boiling water. A great tea for slowing down, freshening up or making you or others smile 🙂