{"title":"Other Teas","description":"\u003cp\u003eTeas beyond puer, chosen for depth and character. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"heirloom-oolong","title":"Taiwan Heirloom Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis aged oolong is a tea with both character and a story behind it. It came into my hands through a close friend of my wife’s family, almost by chance. This is often how truly special teas are found—they rarely appear through ordinary retail channels. Access comes through relationships built on the ground and developed over time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe tea has remained within our friend’s family since it was acquired from the widow of a farmer in Guoxing Township, Nantou County, around two decades ago. The farmer both produced his own tea and collected teas from other local farmers in the area. These teas were largely produced in Nantou’s traditional lower-elevation tea-growing regions and made in the older open-leaf style common before the tighter rolled-leaf style became more prevalent in the 1970s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis particular tea is made in that older open-leaf style. While the exact production date is uncertain, these details give us greater confidence in estimating the tea to be around sixty years old.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince entering our friend’s family collection, the tea has been carefully stored in clay jars. The storage has been on the drier side, with none of the dank or overly humid flavors sometimes found in aged teas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the cup, this tea is deeply satisfying and carries a character reminiscent of Dongding. It brews with strength and concentration, offering a smooth texture and excellent depth. It also received a stronger roast, which has integrated beautifully over time and blends with pleasant fruit notes and other aged flavors. The finish is long, leaving a persistent aftertaste, and the overall character strikes a beautiful balance between softness and strength.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor puer drinkers who appreciate a satisfying aged oolong—as well as for dedicated oolong lovers—this tea comes highly recommended.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Journey Teas","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":47844541497603,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sample 25g","offer_id":47844541530371,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8260\/6083\/files\/Heirloom01.jpg?v=1777273863"},{"product_id":"90s-liubao","title":"90's Liubao","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from Feng Tai Xiang Tea Factory and is batch No. 12 of their Feng Zi Hao series from the 1990s. The leaves were stored in their original bamboo basket, where they aged and transformed for nearly three decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite spending many years in Hong Kong storage, the tea brews remarkably clean, with no unpleasant storage notes. The characteristic betel nut aroma associated with Liubao tea is present, though it has mellowed over time and is now nicely integrated into the tea’s aged flavor profile. In the mouth the tea is very smooth, with good liveliness and an oily texture. When brewed strong in a small pot, it produces a nicely concentrated liquor with a pleasant bitterness that transforms into a lingering sweetness. Energetically, this tea is surprisingly potent and, in my opinion, best enjoyed in the morning. It has impressive endurance and just keeps giving and giving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is a very satisfying example of aged Liubao, displaying the depth of character that comes from years of aging, and one I highly recommend.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Journey Teas","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":47938146042115,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sample 25g","offer_id":47938146074883,"sku":null,"price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8260\/6083\/files\/90_liubao01.jpg?v=1776129730"},{"product_id":"70s-liubao","title":"70's Liubao","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea was produced under the PL brand of Hong Kong tea merchant Chen Chun Lan (陳春蘭). The designation “413” refers to the leaf grade, indicating tender tip material (嫩尖).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTeas like this are often the hardest to describe. It is a fine example of an aged tea, with a flavor profile that could be described as medicinal (藥香). The liquor is concentrated, with a delicate and refined mouthfeel. A strong aftertaste coats the mouth and throat, while the cha qi is powerful yet ethereal. The tea also shows excellent endurance and can be enjoyed over many steepings. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the kind of tea that needs to be experienced to be fully understood. It’s not the sort of tea to drink casually, but one best enjoyed in a quiet, focused session where it can be fully appreciated.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Journey Teas","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":47939536126211,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sample 10g","offer_id":47939536158979,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8260\/6083\/files\/70_liubao01.jpg?v=1776307597"},{"product_id":"alishan-yefang-oolong","title":"Alishan Yefang High Mountain Oolong","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"416\"\u003e野放 (Yefang), literally translated as “wild-abandoned,” refers to tea trees that were originally cultivated but later left untended and allowed to grow naturally. Through minimal intervention, the garden gradually becomes shaped more by nature than by human management, and this particular tea reflects that influence clearly, resulting in a character quite different from the more orthodox high mountain oolongs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"683\"\u003eThis tea is also 著蜒, a Taiwanese term referring to tea leaves that experienced insect activity during growth. As the tea plant responds, it can develop sweeter and more aromatic qualities, often expressed through natural honey notes and a soft, lingering sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"685\" data-end=\"1203\"\u003eHarvested last winter at around 1300 meters and finished with a light charcoal roast, this tea carries a distinct wild quality with excellent depth. When brewed harder, a subtle bitterness can surface, creating an interesting contrast with the tea’s sweetness. There is very little astringency, while an oily texture coats the mouth and throat. The energy is one of the highlights here, reminding me more of a young sheng puer than a typical high mountain oolong. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1356\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eA satisfying tea and a particularly good choice for lovers of young sheng puer, or for oolong drinkers curious to explore something a little different.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Journey Teas","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":48116982415619,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Sample 25g","offer_id":48116982448387,"sku":null,"price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8260\/6083\/files\/alishan_yefang01.jpg?v=1778215149"}],"url":"https:\/\/journey-teas.com\/collections\/other-teas.oembed","provider":"Journey Teas","version":"1.0","type":"link"}