{"title":"Black Tea  红茶","description":"Red tea, or \"Black Tea\" as it is known in the west, is a relative newcomer to tea, which is to say a mere few centuries old. A black tea process employs deliberate rolling and bruising of freshly withered tea leaves, to encourage oxidation, flavor complexity and texture. A tea's polyphenols will shift with oxidation, beginning in a very tannic and fresh state, softening and dampening into something rich, sweet and ripe. In one sense, a black tea is run through the oxidation gamut for you in advance, and this was indeed what historically made it optimized for long overseas voyages, where it would degrade less in a cargo hold between origin and market. Many black teas will improve and deepen with age. It's a style that carries all the things that make oxidized things great: raw cocoa, mead, toasted malt, summer squash, stone and red fruits--in short, delight.","products":[{"product_id":"ms-wus-hualien-honey-aroma","title":"Ms. Wu's Hualien Honey Aroma","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn Ruisui in \u003cspan class=\"il\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHualien\u003c\/span\u003e, on the pristine forested shores in eastern Taiwan, Mi Xiang (Honey Aroma) black tea has become iconic. The combined difficulties of small acreage, irregular bug bite, and an increasingly unpredictable typhoon season make for a dauntingly low yield. TRES encouraged the uptake of bug-bitten black teas in the region, playing uniquely to Ruisui’s (exactly) tropical latitude. \u003cspan class=\"il\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMs\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"il\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWu\u003c\/span\u003e has been producing Mi Xiang organically from her family garden in Ruisui since 1973 from transplant Da Ye (oolong) cultivar. We are lucky to be able to share the taste of Ruisui with you. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43180630048991,"sku":"wuhon_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43274196320479,"sku":"wuhon_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/P1015055.jpg?v=1764102238"},{"product_id":"ambrosia","title":"Ambrosia","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere is a specialness to the meeting place; to the ordained melding point of ideas and desires. Plucked from the high slopes of Santikhiri (Peace Hill) in northwestern Thailand, Ambrosia breakfast is testament to the interconnection of three kingdoms: insect, plant and animal. Tender tea shoots are bitten by jassids, which cause the plant to release an alluring scent, attracting predators of the insect. Producer Mr. Lu’s task is to court the jassids to his garden—a delicate balance—and pluck the bitten shoots. To those hesitant of the notion of bug-bitten leaves, there’s a famous Thai quip: “Mai pen rai,” meaning, simply, “nevermind.” \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 1","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43180629786847,"sku":"ambro_black_tier1_00050","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43113568534751,"sku":"ambro_black_tier1_00250","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/AMBROSIA7534.jpg?v=1706285823"},{"product_id":"sunstone","title":"Sunstone","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhether gazing through the red cliffs of a canyon, or lost in a forest of towering grey stones, the sun’s radiance and warmth finds you. Grown in the cradle of tea, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eSunstone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a breakfast tea unlike any other, which is why it sits at the heart of our collection. Each season, we combine a selection of black tea terroirs from Southwestern China, melding them for a sturdy and satisfying base to a morning—or whatever time it finds you. The infusion is full-bodied and always low in astringency. The taste strikes a dynamic chord between breakfast tea boldness and savorable complexity. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 1","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43180628345055,"sku":"sston_black_tier1_00050","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43113570795743,"sku":"sston_black_tier1_00250","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/sunstone_ww.png?v=1656536168"},{"product_id":"the-wen-familys-song-zhong-black-2021","title":"The Wen Family's Song Zhong Black","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA tea that is as sensuous as it is mysterious, Song Zhong Black originated as an esteemed Phoenix variety with mythos of its elegant repute dating back to the Song Dynasty. One of the Dancong mother trees dating back hundreds of years, it's typically processed as a medium-roast oolong to heighten its legendary caramelized sugar and melon notes. One of our long-time producers of the distinguished Wudong region, the Wen family, experimented with its processing to create a beautifully modern black tea, pronouncing its roasted dark fruit notes with candied sugars and delicate florals. This is a tea still revealing new dimensions of its enigmatic character with every steep.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 4","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43180627951839,"sku":"wenbl_black_tier4_00050","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/WENFAMILYSONGZHONG7679_fixed.jpg?v=1706302278"},{"product_id":"iron-goddess-black","title":"Iron Goddess Black","description":"Grown at the extreme elevations of Qinhua near Ligong Village in Dali, Yunnan, tea masters from Taiwan were sent on a state sanctioned visit to the high elevation gardens of Yunnan. Ah Feng, a decorated tea master from Nantou, Taiwan planted his 'Iron Goddess' cultivar in the gardens. At this elevation, the tea plant grows slowly but sweetly. After five years the plants were hardy enough to yield the first lots. The results are astonishing.","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43199547932895,"sku":"irong_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43274257400031,"sku":"irong_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/irongoddessblack_ww.png?v=1656598263"},{"product_id":"honey-alpine","title":"Honey Alpine Black","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eIn Taiwan’s esteemed tea county of Nantou, Mr. Ting’s farm spans across the western foothills of Mount Hehuan, settled in the sprawling acres of Huisun. Though Nantou is famous for its high mountain oolongs, experiments in black tea production bred promising dynamic, intensely sweet flavors over the past decade. Mr. Ting’s harvests, like many high mountain tea fields, produce a small micro lot due to the mountains’ challenging terroir; adding patience to seasonality, he waits 28 days from spring’s harvest to begin plucking this special summer harvest. Though Qing Xin is a hearty cultivar, and renowned for its sweetness, Mr. Ting’s slow, careful rolling of the leaves intensifies its rock candy notes into a plush, dessert-like cup. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43639805968607,"sku":"honey_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43639859314911,"sku":"honey_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/honeyalpineblackleafyy.png?v=1666128482"},{"product_id":"formosa-water-sprite-black","title":"Formosa Water Sprite Black","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMr. Chang embodies the young, electric spirit found in certain rare corners of the tea lands. The Changs hail from Lugu, and in the twilight of the city’s “Dong Ding” heyday, decided to move to new mountains. His organic ‘Shui Xian’ garden sits on two knolls, in a cool river valley, above a maple tree grove—which helps mitigate harmful breezes. Only the most soft and pliable leaves are harvested and deftly rolled into a tight ball. This lot was electric roasted, and the distinct, yet toasty sweetness goes to show for it.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43751935967455,"sku":"formo_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g Bag","offer_id":43766822502623,"sku":"formo_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/FWS_leaf.png?v=1670000822"},{"product_id":"firefly-black","title":"Firefly Black","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur longest-term source in Nepal, Aapsara Neupane, is a prodigy of the Himalayan foothills region. She learned  the craft of tea making from her parents who have been cultivating for twenty-five years. Junkiri, or, “Firefly” is a novel black tea process—the fruition of the Himalayan Tea Producer Cooperative, wherein groups of small farmers own the respective factories and control production. Produced entirely organically—late sun, alpine aspect and excellent biodiversity make for superb growing conditions in Panchthar. Rocky soils encourage root systems to ramify and deepen into subsoil layers, creating a cup with structure and complexity.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":44261162221791,"sku":"firef_black_tier2_00050","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"250g","offer_id":44261162254559,"sku":"firef_black_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/fireflyblacklead.png?v=1689367593"},{"product_id":"koushun-black","title":"Koushun Black","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMichio Hanamizu was a businessman in Tokyo when he met his wife: the daughter of a tea producer and smallholder of a 70-year-old farm in Ibaraki. His father-in-law was set to retire and sell the land, until Hanamizu quit his job and offered to take over. Initially data-driven in his production methods, Hanamizu converted to “making tea with the five senses” after visits to black tea producers in China and Taiwan. Hot summers, cold winters and the fertile soil between the Kinu and Tone rivers, nurture Sashima.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":44364626100447,"sku":"koush-black_black_tier3_50","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":44364626133215,"sku":"koush-black_black_tier3_250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/KOUSHUN-BLACK-0118_WW.jpg?v=1695066788"},{"product_id":"korean-balhyocha","title":"Korean Balhyocha","description":"\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSu Su Choi began in 2010 with a mission of \"celebrating the diversity, harmony and beauty of nature.\" The company name, Dachae, can be interpreted as \"house of\" or \"color of\" tea. Their operation harvests tea based on the natural rhythms of the earth and takes significant pains to match each cultivar with appropriate growing conditions. Hailing from the stunning Boseong county at the southern reach of the peninsula, the plants thrive amid the mild maritime climate and abundant rainfall. The clean profile of this Balhyocha belies its true richness and sweetness. Choi's central tenet of tea drinking is that each person should enjoy it as they like.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":45109869674719,"sku":"korba_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":45109869707487,"sku":"korba_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/BALHYOCHA8091.jpg?v=1710799815"},{"product_id":"2015-four-seasons-red","title":"2015 Four Seasons Red","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the producer of our popular 2003 Eight Immortals comes another aged variety, this time the undersung 'Si Ji Chun' (\"Four Seasons of Spring\"). Chen's father has been producing tea since the mid-1970s. His father was a highly specialized roaster of tea, who saw market preferences shifting, and in anticipation began sourcing a myriad of cultivars from both sides of the Strait, as well as committing some teas to aging. As tea ages, tannins and caffeine break down, giving way to a mellower cup, while a new, third category called tertiary aromas, begin to emerge and provide contemplative complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":45905962893535,"sku":"4seas_black_tier2_00050","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":45905962926303,"sku":"4seas_black_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/FOURSEASONSRED9246copy.jpg?v=1717185238"},{"product_id":"ruby-18-black","title":"Mr. Lin's Ruby #18","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlfredo Lin is one of our longest standing producer partners. The young maker is a veritable fount of knowledge: his jocularity and spirit of experimentation give rise to refined and consistent excellence in teamaking. Low-lying, sun drenched organic gardens in Mingjian are the site of this Ruby 18: a now-classic blend of Burmese Assam and the Taiwanese indigenous cultivar, touting big body, wintergreen aroma and fruited honey sweetness. Ruby’s Assam heritage can be tricky—bad examples are astringent with muddled flavor... Lin's touch imbues the lustrous leaves with near-perfect secondary aroma, with clarity and structure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":46561884045535,"sku":"ruby18_black_tier2_50g","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":46561884078303,"sku":"ruby18_black_tier2_250g","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/RUBYBLACK-0059.jpg?v=1733431853"},{"product_id":"cypress-curls","title":"Cypress Curls","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMount Lao is among the most significant sites in Daosim. This handmade tea was grown in the gardens beneath the mountain range in the northerly Shandong province of China. Growing in such a northerly and cool climate challenges the tree but creates a delicious, sweet and layered cup. While Lao Shan village region focuses almost exclusively on green tea processing, Mr. He’s hybrid oolong rolling and black tea oxidation, coupled with an aromatic roasting creates a unique sweet and toasty profile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":46561889255647,"sku":"cyprs_black_tier2_00050","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":46561889288415,"sku":"cyprs_black_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/LAOSHAN-0075.jpg?v=1733433692"},{"product_id":"aroma-returns","title":"Aroma Returns","description":"Yunkang No. 10 is also called the \"Huigan\" cultivar--referring to the \"returning sweetness\" or \"returning aroma\" that lingers in the throat long after drinking. The cultivar has been an omnipresent fixture of Yunnan Dianhong. This particular lot was born from Spirit Tea’s Cross Strait Collaboration--a meeting of the Luos--it was grown on the Fengqing farms of preservation and ecologically minded Yunnan Mr. Luo (Sunstone) and processed there by decorated, fastidious Taiwanese master Mr. Luo (Exuding Jade). Realizing the mission similarities of the makers, we broached the idea with the two, sponsored the travel, and commissioned select, exclusive lots.","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":47024333652191,"sku":"aroma-return_black_tier2_00050","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"250g","offer_id":47024333684959,"sku":"aroma-return_black_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/image_e2b8ce03-029b-465d-b7a1-94f78cd44117.jpg?v=1751311834"},{"product_id":"early-spring-black","title":"Wild Purple","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the highlands of Fengqing, groves of old tree and heirloom varietals grow abundantly. This tea is an example of the daliensis plant--a landrace cousin of tea touting a concentration of anthocyanin. Hand plucked leaves are bundled in cloth for oxidation, shaped and fired by hand, then dried to enhance aroma. This particular lot was born from Spirit Tea's Cross Strait Collaboration; grown on the Fengqing farms of preservation and ecologically minded Yunnan Mr. Luo (Sunstone) and processed there by decorated, fastidious Taiwanese master Mr. Luo (Exuding Jade). Realizing the mission similarities of the makers, we hatched the idea, sponsored the travel, and commissioned the lots.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spirit Tea ","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":47024384540895,"sku":"wild-purple_black_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":47024384573663,"sku":"wild-purple_black_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/image_0d1768f4-c9c9-4eee-a352-98fd6bf1be7f.jpg?v=1751311823"},{"product_id":"yunnan-black-concubine","title":"Fragrant Consort Black","description":"Hailing from Taiwan, 'Ruanzhi' is foundational high mountain oolong stock. Its bouquet is pronounced and elegant and its taste creamy and smooth. In the right hands, oolong material is evoked as expressive and sweet black tea. This particular lot was born from Spirit Tea's Cross Strait Collaboration--a meeting of the Luos--it was grown on the Fengqing farms of preservation and ecologically minded Yunnan Mr. Luo (Sunstone) and processed there by decorated, fastidious Taiwanese master Mr. Luo (Exuding Jade). Realizing the mission similarities of the makers, we broached the idea with the two, sponsored the travel, and commissioned select, exclusive lots.","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":47164434153695,"sku":"fragrant-consort_black_tier2_50g","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":47164434186463,"sku":"fragrant-consort_black_tier2_250g","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/YunnanBlackConcubine-5480Large.jpg?v=1753297368"},{"product_id":"lychee-roasted-water-sprite","title":"Lychee Roasted Water Sprite","description":"This tea shares its origin with our Formosa Water Sprite Black but tells a completely different story, one shaped by the transformative art of charcoal roasting. It's a complete metamorphosis achieved through fire and time. The Shui Xian cultivar, known as 'Water Narcissus,' is a rarity in Taiwan. At Spirit Tea, we classify it as \"non-native\" (meaning it wasn't developed by Taiwan's tea research station) but brought from mainland China. This unusual terroir makes it all the more special. The magic happens during the charcoal roasting process, which demonstrates the Maillard browning effect beautifully. Heat works on the tea's amino acids and polyphenols, transforming them into something altogether sweeter and more complex, almost confection like. Where our Water Sprite Black highlights bright citrus and squash notes, the roasting over lychee charcoal condenses those aromatics into something richer and darker.","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":47616570982623,"sku":"lychee-watersprite_tier3_black_50g","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":47616571015391,"sku":"lychee-watersprite_tier3_black_250g","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/LycheeWaterSpriteArtboard3.jpg?v=1763497390"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/collections\/Spirit-23Black-041422-1-4x5_c47dfebd-989d-48bb-8da5-f7989153ab0d.jpg?v=1773423048","url":"https:\/\/spirittea.mom\/collections\/blacktea.oembed?page=2","provider":"Spirit Tea ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}