Nuo Xiang – Qimen An Tea 2024 Tribute Tip

This traditional Glutinous Aroma Tribute Tip 2024 Qimen An Tea (糯香贡尖祁门安茶) is distinguished by its unique packaging, utilizing Ruoye leaves (箬叶) and bamboo baskets. The picked Ruoye leaves are meticulously cleaned, wiped dry, and then skillfully strung together, resembling paper, to line the bamboo baskets. After the tea undergoes its processing, it is carefully placed into these baskets; a portion of the long Ruoye leaves serves as the lining, while the part extending out of the basket is ingeniously folded over to form a cover, sealing the tea tightly within. From your first sip, this tea unveils a naturally sweet and exceptionally smooth liquor, graced with a subtle yet enchanting magnolia flower aroma that delicately perfumes the brew and lingers invitingly.

During long-term storage, this thoughtful packaging allows the Ruoye leaves and tea leaves to complement each other, fostering the development of a unique aged fragrance famously described as "Ruoye’s aroma blends perfectly with the tea" (箬叶沉香), a characteristic that becomes even more pronounced and cherished with age. The subtle fragrance of the bamboo strips from the basket also integrates into the tea, contributing to an even richer, three-layered aromatic profile. This exceptional Qimen An Tea is celebrated for its lasting and pronounced overall aroma, further distinguished by a unique betel nut fragrance and subtle hints of bamboo leaves inherent to the tea itself. The infusion boasts a bright, clear orange-yellow hue and is regarded for its high medicinal value, offering a mellow, refreshing taste with a notable ability to stimulate salivation.

To fully appreciate its depth, we recommend starting with a smaller amount of tea for your initial infusion, ideally using a Yixing clay teapot to enhance its rich texture and mouthfeel. It is also recommended that when brewing for daily consumption, some Ruoye leaves can be torn off and brewed together with the dry tea, further enhancing its unique character. The "Glutinous Aroma," heralded in its name, truly comes to life when prepared using the men pao method (a traditional technique of steeping and simmering). This approach unlocks an especially rich, wonderfully thick, and deeply sweet character, delivering a uniquely satisfying and memorable tasting journey.