Pan Long (盤龍, Pán Lóng, "Coiling Dragon") - One of the most bizarre of all the teas we carry, Pán Lóng is made from a unique feral tea plant that grows like a vine, coiled around a larger tree. This rare phenotypical morph of the tea plant gives this tea its name, which means “Coiling Dragon.” The tea itself is barely recognizable as tea; its leaves are rounder and less serrated than normal Phoenix teas, with an oily-sweet flavor and a brown liquor. The most remarkable aspect of this tea is the intense, nearly psychedelic Qi. If you’re the sort of person who sees ghosts, this tea is likely to make you see ghosts. This tea is processed more like a white tea than an oolong: simply sun-dried, with no Shā Qīng 殺青 ("Kill the Green") to lock in an oxidation level. Pán Lóng is a specific 2012 harvest. Tea master Lin Yaobin has been unable to find the unique tree that this tea is made from since 2012, meaning that this one limited harvest might be the only one we ever get.
1 Review
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Herbaceous and intense
This is unlike any tea I've had. The smell is sweet, earthy, and pungent like many aged oolongs. The taste is like basil and mint. Herbaceous zestiness, sharp yet restrained bitterness on the back of the tongue, and a cooling sensation in your mouth. And the claims of its powerful qi are no exaggeration. The tea is embracing, stimulating, and perplexing from the very first sip. I can usually handle 10 grams of tea in my 5 oz gaiwan, but this one is too strong for me at that ratio and I'm cutting the liquor with a splash of plain hot water to avoid being overwhelmed.