Tea Gathering recap and a new aged tea
+ a reminder that we offer private tastings!
Dear tea friends,
Thanks to everyone who came out for our recent Tea Gathering! Given that it took place in the middle of the summer in Massachusetts, it was unbelievably hot and humid - but 21 of us tea lovers would not be deterred! Some of you even walked half an hour or more - in the heat and up the hill - to get here. I guess it’s true what they say: love (of tea) can move (you up) mountains…! Together we drank 4 cold brewed teas and several hot teas, some from Broken Cup Teahouse and some brought by our guests. It was great to see both old and new tea friends alike!
If you have ever had tea with me, you know that when we have tea, I am 100% present, with you and with tea. Sometimes, I completely forget to take photos at our events. Here is one photo that my husband took:
And here are some beautiful and proper photos of the event itself, taken by Isabelle (THANK YOU)!
A New Aged Tea: 1997 Swann’s Way
There is a special place in my heart for old teas. In some language somewhere on earth, there must exist a word that means “the sweetness of nostalgia for the past” - for me, this is the taste of old tea. Whenever I come across a new old tea that is very, very good, I feel as if I’ve discovered a hidden treasure! It is a delightful kind of joy. If you’ve ever read Marcel Proust - that guy knows what I’m talking about. For Marcel, madeleines; for me, old tea. So this new aged tea is named Swann’s Way for Marcel, my zhiyin (知音) friend from another era.
This new old tea in our collection is an oolong from Taiwan, made in 1997. The cultivar is unknown; my best guess is qing xin (“green heart”). Given the more delicate, tender leaves, I would guess that it is a first flush spring picking, and never roasted (maybe only gently re-dried). It has a very lovely character. There are some similarities to 1995 Remembrance and 2001 Plum Beauty, but it is a little gentler and quieter than those. It will surprise you with its matured jasmine aroma right off the first steep, before settling into something soft, sweet, and slightly musky.
This tea is also part of a NEW Old Oolongs: 7-Tea Sampler set, which includes 7 of our oldest teas, from the 1970s to 2000s. We also have 1 last box remaining of our Old Oolongs: 4-Tea Sampler. These are all part of our treasured old teas collection, and I dare you’d be hard-pressed to find a comparable curation of old oolong teas at this quality and value anywhere within a few thousand miles!
Starting September 1, our order minimum for free shipping will increase to $80. Try either one of these samplers sometime this month, while they still ship for free!
Private Tastings
A kind reminder that we offer private tastings! Whether you are a couple celebrating a birthday or anniversary, or your company is celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival (happening this year on September 17!), we would be honored to host you for tea. Please feel free to take a look at our Private Tastings page for more info, or our Google Business reviews for testimonials from past attendees.
As always, thank you for your support!
-Yin