We had to request a special manufacture of Yunnan Gold tea this year, so an already scarce tea has become almost non-existent. This is due to the fact that most of the juicy buds used to produce it are now being used to make the very popular Pu Erh tea. As you will see from the photograph, this tea is made up entirely of long, golden buds and is the highest grade available of Yunnan tea. Cultivated on the high, misty plateaus, in the red soil of the Lancang River this complex tea is both powerful yet flowery, light but rich with a spicy quality and exotic perfume. Only specially plucked leaves harvested at certain times of the season can produce a tea of such beautiful appearance and sophisticated liquor. Although satisfyingly strong it is impossible to make this tea full of golden buds bitter, the longer you brew it the richer and smoother it becomes. The most wonderful thing about this tea, made entirely from plump, hairy buds, is that no two cups taste the same. Instead one is treated to an array of flavours that change almost with the weather! This most complex of all teas is both powerfully rich in liquor yet paradoxically, flowery and light. It varies from peppery spiciness to a sweet toffee character in a moment yet always has an exotic perfume. Perfect with or without milk so use a half to full teaspoon, accordingly, per person and brew for at least six minutes. Black tea perfection.