Inner Peace

• Taste: Hay, roasted grain, syrup
• Type: Dark rolled oolong
• Why it is our favourite: The dark roast makes it a grounding tea.

Sweetness: ■■■□□
Floral: ■■□□□
Stillness: ■■■■□
Focus: ■■□□□
Grounding: ■■■■□

Inner Peace is a rolled Tieguanyin from Taiwan. It is made the traditional way, that means it is roasted longer than the more modern versions of Tieguanyin one might find. That heavy roast is where the thickness in the cup comes from. This traditional processing is exactly what lets a Tieguanyin age well and is also a grounding experience right now.

She has notes of hay, syrup and a little smokiness in the background. The colour of the liquid is pale gold. Taking a sip, it coats the whole mouth, is oily and full. It has a sweetness that returns for minutes and settles warm in the stomach.

Brewing

A few rolled pearls in a bowl is the easiest way to meet her, and enough to show off the thick, coating mouthfeel she's built for. She goes further in gongfu, where short early infusions help you maintain the very gradual, patient end of the session. Leave her too long in the teapot and she can turn bitter. A shorter steep keeps her gentler and leaves you in control of how strong she comes through.

Trust your own judgement above all — your water, your teapot and your palate may ask for something else.

• Grandpa style: 2 g / 300 ml, 95 °C
• Leaves in a bowl: 1 g / 100 ml, 95 °C
• Gongfu: 4 g / 100 ml, 98 °C
• Infusions: 10+

For the tail end of a hectic week, when quiet company is what you want — or a smaller version of that: catching up with a friend some evening.

• Type: Tieguanyin (oolong)
• Style: Traditional, rolled and heavy roasted
• Origin: Taiwan
• Storage: Dark, airtight
• Latest time to drink: 20:00

• If you want this but lighter and sweeter: Oriental Beauty.
• If you want this but greener and grassier: Fields of green.