Honey Alpine Black

In Taiwan’s esteemed tea county of Nantou, Mr. Ting’s farm spans across the western foothills of Mount Hehuan, settled in the sprawling acres of Huisun. Though Nantou is famous for its high mountain oolongs, experiments in black tea production bred promising dynamic, intensely sweet flavors over the past decade. Mr. Ting’s harvests, like many high mountain tea fields, produce a small micro lot due to the mountains’ challenging terroir; adding patience to seasonality, he waits 28 days from spring’s harvest to begin plucking this special summer harvest. Though Qing Xin is a hearty cultivar, and renowned for its sweetness, Mr. Ting’s slow, careful rolling of the leaves intensifies its rock candy notes into a plush, dessert-like cup.