Yabukita Oolong

This tea caught us off guard—in the best way possible. A Japanese oolong that could almost be mistaken for a Taiwanese one? We didn’t hesitate and we bought everything the farmer had.

Made from Japan’s workhorse green tea variety Yabukita, grown in a pesticide-free garden, this tea shows just how much potential Japan has for oolong when the craft is right. In fact, the grower went to Taiwan to study traditional oolong processing firsthand, and you can taste the influence in every cup.

Expect a creamy texture with notes of white grapes and charred zucchini, lifted by a lively acidity that never crosses into astringency. It’s elegant yet grounded, experimental yet effortlessly drinkable—a standout example of what happens when curiosity meets skill.

Written by Dominik