Eight Immortals Crossing the Ocean is a classic and celebrated varietal of Phoenix Single Bush (Dancong) Oolong. We have it in three forms - original, "struck by lightning flavor", and stuffed into the skin of a giant citrus and aged. This flight includes 10-gram samples of:
8 Immortals - the classic medium-oxidized, loose version of Eight Immortals Crossing the Ocean, with cool floral and fruity notes.
Thunderstruck - around 100 years ago an individual Eight Immortals plant was struck by lightning. It survived, grew back, and was found to have been altered by its ordeal in flavor and character. Clones of this particular individual plant are collectively known as Lei Gong Da "Struck by the Thunder God", we call it Thunderstruck.
2016 Pomelo-Aged 8 Immortals - A combination of two classic Chinese medicinal herbs - aged tea and aged citrus peel - produced in Southeastern China. The skin of a pomelo, which is a large Chinese citrus, is stuffed with 8 Immortals leaves before being wrapped with wire, pressed, smoked, and aged. This one is from 2016 - we also have a 2010 vintage that is also made with 8 Immortals.
It's always fun to try the same tea in different states, and this flight gives the rare opportunity to taste the epigenetic consequences of physical trauma (lightning strike) on the cloned offspring of an individual living plant. In plain speak, when you taste the 8 Immortals and the Thunderstruck side by side, the difference between those teas is the effect of lightning.
