Stash Fancy Golden Tippy Hao Ya
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Stash Fancy Golden Tippy Hao Ya

Yunnan is an ancient province in southwestern China which borders Vietnam, Laos and Burma. This misty mountainous province has grown tea for 1700 years. The 'yun' in Yunnan means 'cloud', and most tea in Yunnan is literally grown in the clouds at elevations of three to seven thousand feet. The tea plant itself is often considered a native of Yunnan as 260 different varieties, some the size of large trees, can be found here.

Yunnan leads all other Chinese provinces in black tea production. Yunnan black teas are produced from a strain of ancient native broad leafed (Dayeh) tea bushes which are also used for the famous medicinal Pu - erh tea. These tea bushes grow along the Lancang River in southern Yunnan province. They have a longer life span, earlier and stronger buds, fat shoots, and thick, soft leaves. Striking evidence of how important climate and soil conditions are to tea bushes, if this native broad leafed Dayeh strain is transplanted anywhere else in China, it produces the typical 'China leaf' which is narrow, thin, and dull in comparison. Transplant the same bush to its native environment and it once again produces broad, thick, glossy, tippy leaves.

Our Fancy Golden Tippy Hao Ya is grown in Tu Li, Yunnan Province. The tea estate is located at an elevation of 5,000 feet and was first planted 10 years ago. The leaves are plucked and then oxidized for 3 to 4 hours (normally oxidation takes place for 45 minutes).

This tea has unique large leaves with an abundance of golden tips. It brews a light golden brown cup, with a delicious full bodied flavor that is very smooth and has a distinctive yet mellow smoky after taste. It is excellent plain or with a splash of milk, and is perfect for breakfast.