Song Yang | green tea
TASTING NOTES: sautéed spinach or mustard greens, walnuts, nutmeg
Soft green tea with a velvety mouthfeel. Its bold, savory bent towards bitter greens sautéed in canola oil is seasoned with a hint of nutmeg and the gentle essence of cooked rice.
Tea Region
Tea tree
Cultivar
Harvest
Picking & processing
Songyang, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
Camellia sinensis sinensis
Yin Shuang
Spring, 2023
One bud, one leaf
The mist-shrouded valleys of Songyang are nestled within the picturesque landscape of Lishui, Zhejiang. This is the birthplace of Songyang Xiang Cha. Crafted with the Yin Shuang cultivar, this tea tells a story of everyday simplicity elevated by the artistry of traditional Chinese tea-making. The tea is harvested each spring, a moment when the lush tea fields awaken with new growth, bathed in gentle rain and filtered sunlight. It is a humble tea, often enjoyed daily by locals, yet it holds a depth of character that rewards those who take the time to savor its subtle complexities.
Songyang Xiang Cha is not a tea that shouts; it whispers. When brewed with care, it reveals a soft, velvety liquor that glides effortlessly across the palate. It carries the rustic charm of the Songyang countryside—a tea that feels like a well-worn path through fields of wild greens, with the sun warming your back and the earthy, aromatic notes of springtime in the air.
Stir-fried vegetables with sesame oil
Pairing the tea with stir-fried greens like bok choy, spinach, or chard, finished with a drizzle of sesame oil, enhances its savory, vegetal notes and complements the tea’s gentle bitterness.
Walnut and herb salad
A fresh salad of mixed greens, herbs, and walnuts dressed with a light vinaigrette pairs beautifully, echoing the tea’s vegetal and nutty elements while adding a refreshing contrast.
Miso soup or broth-based soups
The tea’s savory character complements the umami and subtle saltiness of miso soup or other light, broth-based soups, enhancing the experience with layered, comforting flavors.
Nori (seaweed) snacks
The umami-rich, slightly salty flavor of nori snacks complements the tea’s savory greens and adds a layer of briny depth, making for an enjoyable, balanced pairing.
Tea character
Leaf
freshly cut bitter greens, canola oil, toasted nuts
Cup
sautéed greens, cooked rice, mild, savory spices
Flavor
sautéed spinach or mustard greens, walnuts, nutmeg
How to brew
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
80 °C
3 gram
100ml
45 sec (add 15 sec per steep for 6 steeps)
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
80 °C
6 gram
500ml
4 min (you can resteep 2 times)