【2021 Yongchun Buddha's Hand Tea】

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51368930883_f01326177c_c.jpg In the summer heat, no one can resist the 'Snow Pear Soup' of Buddha's Hand Tea. Elderly wisdom teaches that the hotter it is, the less one should immediately consume ice. So, at this moment, returning from the outdoors, I sit on a sun-warmed stool, with a cup of Buddha's Hand Tea, freshly brewed by my grandmother, beside me. Strangely, though brewed with hot water, this tea offers a sweet, refreshing citrus-like flavor, carrying a subtle, lingering fragrance reminiscent of Buddha's Hand and citron. It instantly rescues one from the heat, enveloping them in a gentle, sweet aftertaste that brings a sense of inner calm. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51368709626_18c62cbc4a_c.jpg This experience shattered my preconceived notions of tea. Unlike me, who only recently developed a fondness for Buddha's Hand Tea, its delightful taste, particularly the 'Snow Pear Soup' variety from Yongchun, has always been undisputed among oolong tea connoisseurs. Young people are drawn to its delicate sweetness and smooth texture, while elders appreciate its lingering fragrance and soothing quality. Step into any traditional courtyard house in Yongchun, pass through the front hall, traverse the courtyard adorned with intricate porcelain tile carvings, and pass beneath a lintel inscribed with winding poetry. Once seated in the study, with sesame crisps, auspicious red cakes, and kumquat candies laid out, a pot of this long-lasting Buddha's Hand Tea is brewed. Sipping a cup, the joy within rises as spiritedly as the upturned swallowtail ridges of the roof. During the Republic of China era, up until the 1930s, Yongchun Buddha's Hand Tea was primarily an export tea, destined for Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia. It was then often referred to as 'Yongchun Citron,' inspiring the hometown poet Yu Kwang-chung's line, 'Taoyuan's landscape is beautiful, Yongchun's Buddha's Hand is fragrant.' Buddha's Hand Tea, also known as 'Citron Tea' or 'Snow Pear Soup,' is a semi-fermented oolong tea. Buddha's Hand Tea, also known as 'Snow Pear Soup,' is one of the precious varieties of oolong tea. Legend has it that traditional Buddha's Hand Tea possesses a uniquely lustrous and refreshing 'Snow Pear Soup' quality, invigorating the senses and aiding digestion while dispelling summer heat. This notion is not without basis; research from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine indicates that Yongchun Buddha's Hand Tea is rich in amino acids, with the highest content of zinc and flavonoids among all oolong teas. Flavonoids are known to have beneficial effects on lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Crafted using traditional methods, Yongchun Buddha's Hand Tea is robust, enduring multiple infusions, and rich in layers of flavor. When hot water is introduced, the refreshing, citrus-like aroma, unique to the purple bud variety, unfurls. Upon tasting, the delicate sweetness of 'Snow Pear Soup,' achieved through roasting over lychee wood charcoal, emerges, creating a mellow and multi-dimensional experience. Each sip leaves a profound, swift sweetness, with the aroma of citrus and tropical fruits lingering in the palate, creating a gentle sweetness. To find such Buddha's Hand Tea, one must truly trace its origins. Nestled in Yongchun, Fujian, overlooking the Dongxi River of the Jinjiang River and bordering Anxi County, the birthplace of Tieguanyin, with the 'Backbone of Fujian' Daiyun Mountains spanning the region. With mountains, water, and ample sunshine, Yongchun boasts the reputation of 'Myriad flowers bloom without fading, winter is warm and summer is cool, a perpetual spring.' It was during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty that Buddha's Hand Tea, introduced from northern Fujian to Yongchun, acquired its gentle and mellow character. With such superior natural conditions and a unique tea soup flavor, it should have carved out its own niche, much like the fragrant rock teas of the Wuyi Mountains in northern Fujian. However, a truly traditional cup of Buddha's Hand Tea is a rarity, even for seasoned tea masters in Yongchun who have been making tea for years. 'Yongchun Buddha's Hand, like meeting a kindred spirit.' For semi-fermented oolong tea, different techniques and craftsmanship yield distinct aromas and flavors. Buddha's Hand Tea, enhanced by its varietal aroma and unique production process, is exceptionally distinctive. Among Buddha's Hand Teas, those crafted by Taiwanese tea masters often possess a more subdued aroma, akin to aged tangerine peel that has been stored for two to three years. The commonly found 'fragrant' Buddha's Hand Tea often lacks depth, with a fleeting aroma and a bland tea soup with insufficient aftertaste. Buddha's Hand Tea with a distinct citrus aroma, that is, a mellow and bright varietal aroma, is nearly extinct. Unlike the common plucking of large leaves, producing purple bud Buddha's Hand Tea requires a special request to tea farmers for tender plucking. Tender plucking involves harvesting buds and leaves that have not yet fully matured, where the tips of the buds still exhibit a purplish hue as they begin to unfurl. At this stage, the leaves have a higher anthocyanin content, resulting in a richer inner substance and a more profound aftertaste. However, this tea material is more challenging to process, and it is very easy to dissipate the aroma. The fresh leaves of Buddha's Hand Tea can grow to the size of a palm, oval, thick, soft, and lush green, while the tender leaves are slightly reddish and delicate, with smaller leaves. Plucking must be done tenderly, adhering to the standard of one tender bud and three tender leaves, harvesting purple bud tea leaves rich in anthocyanins. The significant difference in the size of the buds and leaves greatly increases the difficulty of the production process. Following sufficient and time-consuming wilting and fermentation, the crucial step of 'stewing' the Snow Pear Soup begins. Under the charcoal roasting of clean, odorless lychee wood, the Buddha's Hand Tea gradually develops a vibrant, mellow tea soup, and the clear, sweet aroma, reminiscent of Buddha's Hand citron, intensifies, with a rich aftertaste. Lychee wood fire slowly 'stews' the unique Snow Pear Soup of Buddha's Hand Tea. Frankly, producing Yongchun Buddha's Hand is a test of both patience and cost. After processes such as stem selection, color sorting, and sifting, the initial dried tea of 330 jin (approximately 165 kg) loses over 60 jin (approximately 30 kg) after charcoal roasting with 180 jin (approximately 90 kg) of lychee wood. Fortunately, Sokeng in Yongchun, with over a century of Buddha's Hand cultivation history, possesses abundant tea leaves that can withstand such rigorous processing. Fortunately, the tea soup's aroma becomes increasingly rich and alluring. After a spring's cultivation and three months of aging, the highly sought-after Snow Pear Buddha's Hand Tea, which sold out rapidly and prompted numerous inquiries, has finally returned. 'I dare not claim to be a celestial being when tasting tea, but tasting the sparrow's tongue makes me envy the immortals.' This time, it is again personally crafted by Mr. Chen Chongmu, the Director of Product Research and Development at Sanlian Tea, who has over a decade of experience in tea research. With even stricter requirements for tender plucking and selection, it replicates the astonishing traditional flavor from last year, offering an even more exquisite experience. 'It's been so long since I've tasted traditional tea with this kind of aroma!' Upon finishing this year's Snow Pear Buddha's Hand Tea, such a sentiment was expressed once more. Heat water, warm the cups, take the tea, and brew. The first infusion, the second, the third... And so, the lingering Buddha's Hand Tea in the ancient courtyard reappears, and we meet again. Recommended brewing method for spherical tea: Tea-to-water ratio: 1:20, Temperature: 100°C First infusion: 90 seconds (no rinsing), Second infusion: 50 seconds, Third infusion: 60 seconds, Fourth infusion: 70 seconds, And so on, adjust according to personal preference. Popular among literary and artistic youth https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49134879098_697280bac9_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49135366351_d414e05c4b_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49135562702_2d89eb0dd3_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49134878998_fb0a5c2ea2_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49134878803_6daba57216_z.jpg Round tin can, set of 2 Gift box dimensions: 26x19x11cm Inner dimensions of tin can: 7.5x11.5cm