"Spring, Fall" Baozhong with White Tea. Tea Cake (100g)

One quiet morning, sitting under a ginkgo tree shedding its golden leaves, a young monk asked wise Lao Cha: 

– Sifu, I wish there was tea that would bring two energies, youth and maturity, to balance... 

– I have such a tea for you, my young friend. One that carries the notes of Spring – full of brightness, vitalizing, promising new beginnings. And the notes of Autumn – sweet, calm, and wise. It's Baozhong, harvested in Spring, and Yunnan White, harvested in Fall, blended together and pressed into one cake. A meeting of seasons, steeped in one pot so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds in a single cup.

"Spring, Fall" is a tea cake made from a blend of Baozhong (包種) and "Moonlight Beauty" (月光白 – Yue Guang Bai). This beautiful blend is another creation of our ever-innovative friends, Mr. Yang and Mr. Zhang from Yunnan.

The Baozhong – a signature tea of Taiwan, is produced from Jin Xuan, a Taiwanese cultivar they've been growing in Yunnan for some time now. It's the same cultivar often used for creamy, floral oolongs. This time, it's processed in the Baozhong style: lightly oxidized, with a soft, bright character. "Moonlight Beauty" is a local white tea, picked in the Fall when the leaves develop sugars and depth.

The two teas bring together two distinct seasonal energies. The Baozhong brings Spring-like freshness: vegetal, refreshing, and bright, while the Yue Guang Bai adds a layer of Autumn sweetness and a round body. The aroma is soft and layered: young peaches, chrysanthemum flowers, and foliage right after a rain. The taste is buttery and vegetal, with just enough sweetness to round it out. There's a light fruitiness, quince and underripe plum, and a gentle honey undertone that becomes more noticeable after the second steep. The mouthfeel is viscous but refreshing. 

Mr. Yang and Mr. Zhang love experimenting, but this blend feels particularly thoughtful. They say they were inspired by Mahjong, where one should have two energies combined in order to win:)

Brewing guidelines: