Bingdao Huang Pian 2019For lovers of complex yellow leaves. The less refined plucking from the tea plant finds its own superior classification with this sheng pu'er. Loosely pressed into these unusually square cakes are huang pian or 'yellow pieces' from the spring 2019 harvest in Bingdao, where tea gardens dot the slopes around Mengku River at altitudes of around 2000 m. It is from this environment that one can expect a multifaceted flavor profile in the cup, and this one

The Floating Yixing teapot is made of the aged Lao Hongni (老红泥) clay

It sits stable on its base

allowing for an opportunity study the difference between two grades of the same white tea

The glaze unfolds in layered tones of blue

lending it an exceptional balance—indeed

and gently spiced

downy buds often associated with Dian Hong

a famous kiln of the Song Dynasty

The result is an oolong that leans towards black tea without obscuring the underlying vegetality

the others entirely new discoveries

The less known cultivar Ying Xiang (Tai Cha #20) is finding its way more and more into the market for its characteristic taste

'Nannuo' has accordingly been inscribed on the underside