Ariya

Ariya is a rare type of aged Taiwanese oolong that a tea lover seldom comes across, because it is intentionally stored. Most teas that are old in Taiwan were left over for some reason or another, and often because they didn’t sell at the time, which can be due to many factors, including quality. This also means that they are often not stored well, and therefore exposed to unwanted humidity and/or oxygen. But Ariya was selected for its nice quality and stored properly and on purpose by our dear friend. It is a fine tea from Alishan produced in 1996, making it thirty years old this year. Because it was sealed properly, we know a lot more about it than most aged oolongs. It has aged slower, with a fine bouquet of complexity that rewards proper gongfu brewing. It is rich, delicious and profound. The Qi moves upward and may lift you out of your seat if you aren’t careful. This is fine tea! [split] 1996 Alishan Oolong