Thanks to its incredibly sweet, floral taste, Bao Zhong Royale is an artisanal oolong with mass appeal. At around ten percent oxidation, Bao Zhong Royale is a lightly oxidized oolong, but don’t let that turn you away from it – unlike lesser light-oxidation oolongs, our Bao Zhong Royale lacks the brazen vegetal notes that detract from the floral complexity Bao Zhong has to offer. Grown in Ping Lin Taiwain, our Bao Zhong is twisted into wiry leaf formations with deep, variegated green hues. During processing, the delicate leaves are wrapped in paper for protection from damage. Our current offering, a delightful winter plucking, was harvested in limited quantities from October 28- 30, 2010. The pale-butter-colored infusion smells of sweet jasmine, narcissus, orchid, lilac and lily, with delicate green undertones. The flavor is intensely buttery, creamy and floral, with hints of firewood, stonefruit and dried, unsweetened coconut. There is no astringency in the smooth, delicate, floral aftertaste, making this tea ideal for new tea drinkers and connoisseurs alike. Like our Dong Ding Oolong, Bao Zhing Royale withstands multiple infusions and gets creamier as it cools. Katie, the “Tea Mistress” in charge of tea education at American Tea Room, considers Bao Zhong Royale to be a “top five” favorite tea.