妃子笑花果香 Wuyi Hong Cha Laughing Concubine 2x50g

Our black (red) Tongmuguan “Laughing Concubine” is connected to a story that everyone in China knows. It takes place during the Tang Dynasty, a period of economic and cultural prosperity in Chinese history, often referred to as the "Golden Age."

Yang Guifei (719–756 AD) was a very beautiful woman - she is considered one of the four beauties of China - and the beloved concubine of Emperor Xuanzong . He loved her so much that he had fresh lychees brought to her every day, among other things. The lychee growing area at that time was in the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian, about 1000 km from the then capital, Xi'an (Chang'an). An extremely expensive system of express couriers was set up, with hundreds of horses and riders estimated to have been involved. The fruits had to be packed in bamboo baskets and wrapped in damp cloths to keep them fresh. This extravagance became a symbol of the decadence at court, which of course was not limited to that, especially since Yang Guifei also looked after her family. The emperor's lavish spending and neglect of state duties at court because of his love for Yang Guifei led to the An Lushan Rebellion, which marked the beginning of the relative decline of the following years. The imperial guard refused to obey Xuangzhong's orders as he fled with Yang Guifei and demanded her death. Yang was strangled or forced to hang herself. The emperor was heartbroken and abdicated.

This is, of course, a lot of material for all sorts of variations and interpretations, but what does it have to do with Tongmuguan tea?
This tea tastes like lychee!

The cultivar for the “Laughing Concubine” is Fujian Xiao Ye Zhong and belongs to the Cai Chas , which means that it is mainly picked wild by the locals for private consumption.

The eight infusions have a beautiful orange color . The tea has light and tastes lychee-sweet, with the sweetness sitting in the throat, with the same aftertaste. The Tongmuguan “Laughing Concubine” promises uncomplicated enjoyment that is simply fun and could also entice those who previously thought they did not like black tea to enjoy it, and is easier on the wallet than the teas with big names, the Zhengshan Xiao Zongs and the Jin Jun Mei, all also from Tongmuguan.

Preparation recommendation: Portion each 100-150 ml Gaiwan, 90°C water temperature;

Brewing times 20/20/25/25/35/40/45/50 s