When we introduced the very first production of this tea last February, we did not expect it to sell-out so quickly. It's also true that there was very little tea we could offer as Lot 1180 was produced from very new T-23 Qi Yun leaves picked from a very small section of newly planted young bushes that had not yet reached their optimum yield yet. That was also one of the first commercial production of black tea we've produced from this section. One year later, yields are more respectable as the bushes have grown quite well. Earlier pickings were diverted to other styles of tea, namely GABA, but our intention was always to reiterate the lovely black tea in the later part of the growing season. The result is this very rewarding Lot 1288 produced during the weekend of Nov. 18-19. This late winter tea proposes a smooth liqueur that still packs a good quench. Very supple tannins support stone fruit freshness with cane sugar sweetness and a touch of spiciness that evokes mace and Taiwan endemic cinnamon leaves. If you like our Shancha or high mountain black teas, you will be in familiar territory with this Qi Yun Black Tea. After all, this very new Taiwanese cultivar is an improved derivative of the famous Qimen cultivar that produces stellar black teas so it comes as no surprise that it fares very well as a black tea. Lot 1288 is made with leaves coming from the same garden as our very first spring tea of 2023, a Qi Yun White Tea (now sold out). Both style of tea processing are definitely the best to bring out the charming distinctive character of this new Taiwanese cultivar. They are quite generous and offer repeat infusions of satisfying cups from the same leaves. A good choice to break the spell of winter.