Song Zhong

Song Zhong is the oldest remaining dancong (Phoenix Oolong) cultivar—with the mother trees now 700 years old, dating back to the Song Dynasty.

The flavor is bright citrus like pomelo, with an air of dried fruits and seeds in the Mediterranean market. The woody thick texture shows tits depth. Steep three, four, five—now we're really cooking. The sweetness opens up and the energy builds. The energy is like the clouds parting—a strong inner radiance.

Peddler's note: Song Zhong takes a attentive steeping. Connoisseur teas make you work for their affections. It's strong qi and bright citrus notes will overpower the uninitiated—pomelo turning into grapefruit. It will reward your presense.

2025 Harvest

Unsprayed by Pesticides

Label 16
Panda Merchant

Generosity

The panda merchant has a knack for material abundance. Opulence fuels their dreams and allows them to get swept away in their passions. For this panda, pursuing wealth is its own adventure. Some frown at the extravagance, others admire it, mostly they are seen as an unapproachable eccentric. 

The panda is particularly fond of storied and legendary objects with craftsmanship that verges on the level of magic. They journey to far-off lands following the leads of rumors and myths. When they find what they seek, they spare no expense—negotiating in both coin and dream to acquire the objects that inspire their passions. When the panda walks through a bazaar, even when not purchasing anything, they feel they are swimming in riches.

One day the panda merchant dreamt of a soft descent to the ocean floor. Finding a mound of treasure by a shipwreck at the bottom of the sea, the panda’s eyes were drawn to a golden carafe shimmering in the light. Picking up the carafe in their paws, a message in a bottle twirled forth in the form of two miniature pandas—conveying the secret that wealth and toys gain their true value when shared. A grumbling monster of miserliness loomed as an apparition in the seaweed, warning of the alternative path. The panda awoke possessing a new treasure—a passion for generously sharing their whimsical world of abundance with others—thereby becoming the happiest they’d ever been.