Fuchow Golden Needle Black Tea

Hand-picked from the misty slopes of Tai-Mu Mountain in Fujian's eastern reaches, this exquisite black tea reveals why true connoisseurs prize it above all others. Each leaf is meticulously shaped by skilled hands, flat and elegant in the manner of the finest Long Jing varieties, worked slowly in traditional woks to preserve its character.

The bushes are deliberately shaded for three weeks before harvest—a labour-intensive practice that coaxes deeper sweetness into every leaf by enriching their chlorophyll content. This is tea that demands patience and rewards it generously.

Brew it properly and you'll discover a remarkably complex liquor. Expect waves of dark chocolate and fresh raspberries to emerge on the nose, with undertones of cocoa and a whisper of warming ginger that unfold differently with each infusion. This is the magic of truly outstanding Chinese black tea—it never quite tastes the same twice.

Production happens only a handful of days each year in tiny quantities, making this an exceptionally rare find. Use 1.5g per 100ml of water, brew for six minutes, and savour every moment. Whether taken black or with milk, it's an experience worth lingering over.