Milky Oolong
Tasting notes: syrniki, anari, Basque cheesecake, honeydew melon
Authentic Milky Oolong is a one-of-a-kind Taiwanese tea with a subtle creamy taste and delicate floral undertones. This tea boasts a fantastically bold flavor resulting from its unique roasting process, offering a depth of flavor that endures through even the fifth brew.
Grown organically in Nantou County from the award-winning ‘Jin Xuan’ cultivar, this Milk Oolong is not artificially flavored but naturally exudes a mild milky aroma, mouthfeel, and taste.
Tea character
Leaf
warm cinnamon bark, smoldering incense, aged spice racks
Cup
delicate smoke, clove, burnt cinnamon sticks, of toasted caramel
Flavor
cinnamon, spices, honey
Tea story
Deep in the misty mountains of Shimada, tea artisan Matsumoto-san revives an age-old technique with an unexpected twist—using cinnamon wood to smoke his black tea. This method, rooted in Japan’s reverence for craftsmanship, mirrors ancient smoking traditions used to preserve and enrich flavors. Unlike Lapsang Souchong’s pinewood smokiness, this tea carries a softer, more nuanced depth—where fragrant cinnamon bark infuses the leaves with a natural warmth, without a trace of artificial flavoring.
The tea itself is cultivated through Chagusaba, a UNESCO-recognized traditional method where grasslands are carefully maintained around the tea fields. The dried grass is used both as mulch and shading, enriching the soil while promoting sustainability. Once harvested, the leaves are withered, rolled, and oxidized before undergoing a slow smoking process over cinnamon wood, allowing the delicate spice notes to meld into the tea’s body. The result is an intricate, incense-like smokiness that intertwines with whispers of warming spice—perfect for slow, contemplative sipping on crisp evenings.
Tea Region | Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan
Tea tree | Camellia sinensis sinensis
Cultivar | Yabukita
Harvest | Spring, 2024
Picking & processing | Mature whole leaves, oxidized, smoked over cinnamon wood
Pulled pork bao
Soft steamed buns filled with slow-cooked, smoky pork that complements the tea’s warming spice and incense-like smokiness.
Roasted chestnuts
The natural sweetness and earthy depth of chestnuts enhance the tea’s gentle cinnamon and caramelized wood notes.
Dark chocolate & orange tart
The bittersweet richness of dark chocolate highlights the tea’s subtle spice, while citrus zest adds a contrasting brightness.
