Wild Tree Black Tea, processed in the gongfu tradition, 60 g

The trick with this tea is to steep for longer than usual – if you typically do 5 minutes, try 6 or even 7. The longer you steep these leaves, the more the flavors comes out. It’s much easier to under-steep than it is to over-steep. I like how crisp, brisk, and clean this is – it opens up with bright aromatics like lemon peel or grannysmith apple, then leads into a deep, round, and smooth body that has notes of malted plums and other dark fruits, as well as hints of various woods. Even with cooler temperatures, longer steep times work wonders to draw out the full spectrum of flavors. The leaf quality is fantastic – large, wholesome, and uniformly processed. When they’re fully opened up, you can tell the input material is high quality… the leaves are glossy and plump, even after a long bath in hot water.