{"title":"Taiwan","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"formosa-green-snail","title":"Formosa Green Snail","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBefore he was thirty years old, Mr. Zhou was winning national tea competitions. Now he and his daughter manage the family garden tracing its roots back to 1879. This seventh\/eighth generation duo produce a variety of Sanxia Biluochun (lit. Sanxia Green Snail Spring) made from Ganzai genotype of Qingxin (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e青心柑仔\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e). The family also applies their heirloom techniques to black, white and oolong processes (including recondite Fujian Yancha stock). Enticing aroma gives way to lucid mouthfeel with structured, fresh tannin and a satiating finish. The Formosa Green Snail is by turns fruity, herbaceous, and vegetal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43180631752927,"sku":"forgs_green_tier2_00050","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43113565815007,"sku":"forgs_green_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/FORMOSAGREENSNAIL-1242_WW_2a694435-80e8-4383-9080-fa1b6a32a0ac.jpg?v=1655494213"},{"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":"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":"mr-changs-water-sprite","title":"Mr. Chang's Water Sprite","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis organic ‘Shui Xian’, though now happily nested in the mountains of Nantou, was originally cut from mainland stock and brought to Taiwan by the Chang family. The legacy of this variety grows richer by the day. Mr. Chang is acutely aware of contemporary challenges to tea production: picker shortages, climate change, and unstable demand. Accordingly, he waits until picking is complete on his half hectare garden, before slating a harvest to its respective processing styles—matching weather, quality, and yield to the style best suited. Here, only tender leaves are harvested and deftly rolled into a tight ball. Superbly toasty sweetness ensconces gentle fruit and herbal complexity. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":43909204607199,"sku":"shuix_oolon_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":43909204639967,"sku":"shuix_oolon_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/shui_leafww.png?v=1753062635"},{"product_id":"lychee-roasted-iron-goddess","title":"Lychee Roasted Iron Goddess","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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. Grown slowly but sweetly at the extreme elevations of Qinhua near Ligong Village in Dali, Yunnan, then shipped to central Taiwan for finishing over lychee charcoals—Alfredo’s protege Ah Feng finished it with a deft roasting. We met with the pair as the last batches were being fired in March of 2026. Due to its painstaking process and imparted aromas, more and more roasters are abandoning charcoal in favor of convection and electric roasting—we are honored to help preserve the long tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":44096923861215,"sku":"lyche_oolon_tier3_00050","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":44104862007519,"sku":"lyche_oolon_tier3_00250","price":102.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/leaf_0ecb4209-ccf6-4f79-9cae-982e2cdaeb23.png?v=1680532936"},{"product_id":"red-water-rou-gui","title":"Red Water Oolong","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Red Water oolong was made from the  Rougui cultivar by Mr. Liang in Pinglin, Taiwan.  Rou Gui is considered a non-native cultivar and is extremely uncommon on the island. His tea bushes are about five years old, planted in former rice terraces, in sandy, well-drained soil. Semi-ripe leaves are gently bruised on soft iron (foregoing bamboo) to bruise the cell wall and gently induce oxidation. Mr. Liang credits the concept of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eZhou Shui\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Walking Water” as essential to his teas’ character: gradually dehydrating leaves with skill, so that moisture is retained during successive processes. Mr. Liang’s practice is rich in the elemental characteristics of old tea making, relying on his senses and instincts. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":44099857744095,"sku":"redwo_oolon_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":44099882352863,"sku":"redwo_oolon_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/products\/RedWaterOolong_ww_d90e7239-8e3b-4415-b883-25396720635d.png?v=1680538846"},{"product_id":"mountain-marigold","title":"Marigold","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter the popular run of our mountain marigold petals from Santhikhiri, Thailand, we are pleased to announce a new entry from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eTagetes \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003egenus, Marigold leaves made through a Spirit Tea commission of the Taiwanese Research and Extension Station. While not our first collaboration with the organization (Shanyun #24), we were eager to rekindle the fresh, terpene rich perennial. In this lot, the bitter and woody aftertaste of the petals is replaced by enduring, smooth and expansive sweetness of the leaves with long-lingering aftertaste.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"30g","offer_id":44364631245023,"sku":"marigold_leaves_tier1_30g","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":44364631277791,"sku":"marigold_leaves_tier1_100g","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/Marigold3_cd8f0757-ccbf-48eb-bfa9-c3b59b03431b.jpg?v=1764278645"},{"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":"new-craft-ruby-white","title":"New Craft Ruby White","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThe creator of New Craft Ruby White (and our previous Iron Goddess Black), Mr. Lin, is a curious man. Indulging his experimentation yields incredible results, however: the teas we source from him are intensely flavorful, with notes that reveal themselves like a perfume. By contextualizing traditional tea styles with modern, proprietary processing techniques, he remixes the past with the present. Though this particular style has existed since the late 60’s, his expertise transformed the beloved black tea Ruby 18 cultivar into a powdered sugar-soft white tea with long-lingering hui gan. New Craft Ruby White is the gorgeous design of ecological harmony, artisanal proficiency, and a tireless spirit for experimentation. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/spirittea.mom\/blogs\/news\/the-curious-heart-of-xin-gong-yi-new-craft-ruby-white-from-mr-lin\"\u003eRead more about New Craft White Ruby White\u003c\/a\u003e on our Blog!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 2","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":46561885028575,"sku":"rbywt_white_tier2_00050","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":46561885061343,"sku":"rbywt_white_tier2_00250","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/RUBYWHITE-0019.jpg?v=1733432145"},{"product_id":"muzha-iron-goddess-of-mercy","title":"Muzha Iron Goddess of Mercy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn April our team had the pleasure of studying with the former processing champion of Taiwan, Mr. Liang. Liang is a treasure and we were fortunate to be imparted an iota of his skill and knowledge. Though we were enjoying the fresh and aromatic yields of the spring season, we commissioned an autumn harvest of Muzha-style Iron Goddess. Though it’s a matter of preference, autumn harvests are known for their superior mouthfeel to early spring. Using precise convection roasting, Liang elicits the fondest and most desirable qualities of Muzha in his productions: melding sugarcane sweetness with full toastiness, textured mouthfeel and a long-lingering fruit palate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tier 3","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":46561886699743,"sku":"irngd_oolon_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":46561886732511,"sku":"irngd_oolon_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/MRLIANGTIEGUANYIN-0067.jpg?v=1733432410"},{"product_id":"exuding-jade-23","title":"Exuding Jade #22","description":"\u003cp\u003eVarieties that once thrived in situ are facing steeper challenge due to climate change. To help farmers, TRES released #22, 'Qin Yu' (\"Exuding Jade\"), a cross of 'Qing Xin' and its heartier peer 'Jin Xuan'. The result is a structured, vigorous and tasty tea combining complexity and resilience. Like a child, it is not quite either of its parents. Floral, but not tropical floral--silky but not milky--'Qin Yu' carries longan and pineapple flavors. Its producer Mr. Luo is a decorated, innovative, ecology-minded master, buying old farms on Shan Lin Xi and converting them to organic growth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spirit Tea ","offers":[{"title":"50g Retail Package","offer_id":47020588794079,"sku":"exuding-jade#22_oolong_tier3_00050","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g","offer_id":47020588826847,"sku":"exuding-jade#22_oolong_tier3_00250","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0113\/8897\/7216\/files\/image_4483e8f9-20bd-43a7-b080-a84117cb1e83.jpg?v=1751311851"},{"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\/432830349-ms-lee-2.jpg?v=1667578210","url":"https:\/\/spirittea.mom\/collections\/taiwan.oembed?page=2","provider":"Spirit Tea ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}