Hunan Yanling

Every tea traces its lineage back to a single origin story, and Hunan Yanling takes you to the place where that story is said to have begun. Yanling County in Hunan Province, China, is the area associated with the legendary Emperor Shennong, who, thousands of years ago, is said to have discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree drifted into his pot of boiling water. Whether myth or history, this region is the ground that gave the world tea.

The tea itself is worthy of its ancient pedigree. The twisted black and gold leaves brew a beautiful copper liquor with a warm, biscuity aroma that fills the room. The flavor follows through with toasted grain and a subtle cocoa depth, not unlike a Keemun in character, but softer and less brisk, with a medium body that makes it wonderfully easy to drink. For lovers of Chinese black teas who appreciate the mellow, naturally sweet quality that sets them apart from their Indian counterparts, Hunan Yanling is a quiet revelation. A cup steeped in the very origins of tea.