QX Oolong 2015-2024
The Garden
Hidden high up on Jade Mountain, in the tree covered mountains of central Taiwan, is the organic Huang family garden. This little garden produces just 1.5T of tea each year. The garden is organic and full of life.
The Tea
QX stands for Qing Xin (roughly pronounced ‘chin-shin’), which is the name of the varietal of tea plant used to make this tea. Qing Xin is a highly prized varietal, producing a lower yield and superior flavour. To make this tea, the pickers head out early in the morning, picking three leaves and a bud. The leaves then sit in the sun for a short time before being placed onto these trays indoors, where they sit for the rest of the day. After this, the main oxidation process takes place by tumbling the leaves, followed by heating which kills the enzyme. Once the enzyme is killed, the leaves can no longer oxidise. The leaves are then rolled and dried a few times into small pearls (below). The tea is finished by roasting.
The QXs are magnificent. Taiwan’s premium varietal combined with the region’s quality season and a craft 36 hour process gives one of the most complex teas in our library.
QX 2024
Batch: A3240425 (40kg) Organic
In a very good year for the Huang family, the QX 2024 is delicious and fruity, like apricot sweets, with floral notes. The 2024 is sweeter than other harvests. Later infusions add gentle notes of sweet spice.
QX 2023
Batch A3230511 Organic
QX 2022
Batch: 20713G1 Organic
The 2022 is bold for its age. The first infusion is sweet, syrupy, stone fruity, and has a touch of caramel. The roasting, although medium, is a little more than most years. Later infusions are almost chewy in texture, with a fruity milk chocolatey character. Interestingly, the florals are more apparent in the later infusions. The 2022 is a very good batch and an excellent candidate for ageing.
QX 2021
Batch: A310421
The 2021 is young and fresh. The first infusion is sweet, floral, creamy, peachy, with hints of vanilla. The youth is apparent in the second infusion with a whole mouthful of sticky flower petal tannins and white grape skins. The infusions that follow are a melody of roasted peach and spice, hints of honey, and a creamy texture.
Infuse 6g per 150ml at 90°C for 1 minute. The leaves will infuse 7 times or more. After infusion 4, infuse for 1.5 mins.
QX 2020
Batch: 00930G1
Still in its youth, the 2020 is very similar to the 2021 but a little more settled, especially on the second infusion which is smoother. Think of flowers, roasted spiced peaches, and cream. The 2020 has good consistency from one infusion to the next.
Infuse 6g per 150ml at 90°C for 1 minute. The leaves will infuse 7 times or more. After infusion 4, infuse for 1.5 mins.
QX 2019
Batch: A3190504 Organic
The 2019 is on great form. The florals are sweeter and slightly richer in flavour. Early infusions are sweet, floral, and creamy. Later infusions are creamy with notes of peaches and apricots, aromatic wood, and sweet honeyed tobacco.
Infuse 6g per 150ml at 90°C for 1 minute. The leaves will infuse 7 times or more. After infusion 4, infuse for 1.5 mins.
QX 2016
Batch: A3160506
2016 has slightly deeper roast then the other vintages. Combined with a few years of ageing, it has a smoother character with a stone fruit and milk chocolate profile. Early infusions are peachy, floral, and milk chocolatey. Later infusions add layers of aromatic woods, with low tannins throughout.
Infuse 6g per 150ml at 90°C for 1 minute. The leaves will infuse 7 times or more. After infusion 4, infuse for 1.5 mins.
QX 2015
Batch: 51120G1
The first infusion is fruity, syrupy, and sweet, almost like apricot sweets. Next comes more fruity and sticky soft tannins. Infusion three onwards has notes of roasted, sweet, ripe stone fruit, aromatic wood, and honeyed tobacco, with a smooth texture.
Infuse 6g per 150ml at 90°C for 1 minute. The leaves will infuse 7 times or more. After infusion 4, infuse for 1.5 mins.
Storing and Ageing
Remember, like wine, every tea ages in its own way. Roasted oolongs from Taiwan can become exquisite over the years, developing spectacular depth of character. You can age the QX oolongs for 10 to 30 years. If you’re a keen tea drinker, we would really recommend buying a few jars of the QX: Drink some now and put a few away to age in a dark cool place. If you have any questions, you can always email us for advice here.
Specific organic details: The garden has been organic certified for many years. It was certified as EU organic then swapped to a Taiwan organic certifier and then went back to an EU certifier. Therefore, just the 2019 anf 2022 is formally sold as organic in the UK/EU. The garden itself has been organic certified to Taiwan standards throughout.