Tea: 2026 Huoshan Big Yellow (黄大茶) Type: Yellow Tea, Orthodox Yellowing, Wet Fermentation Harvest: May, 2026 Region: Jinjishan Village, Huoshan County, China Producer: Chen Lifeng Tasting Notes: Stone Fruit, Barley, Earthy, Vegetal.
This second iteration of our Golden Cock yellow tea cake is a yellow tea for yellow tea drinkers. It is called "Golden Cock" in honor of the mountain and village most associated with Huoshan yellow tea. The material is, more tender, less roasted and less oxidized than the 2023 material we used last year. In pick, it rides along the edge between Huangxiaocha and Big Yellow. After steaming and pressing, it tastes greener than any Big Yellow we have carried before, but this will change in the months to come. Whereas the first iteration of this cake was roasty and toasty, this is a much more fruity tea.
This is a tea you should enjoy Gongfu style, in your favorite gaiwan or teapot. We encourage you to try shorter infusions so you can see how the interplay develops between more mineral or earthy notes and sometimes tart, and more vegetal edges. Unlike with our Yellow Kukicha, this is not a tea that is static between the first rinse and last infusion, but develops into its full richness only by the 3rd infusion.
The special sample that will go out with these 150 cakes or (30 tongs), is our attempt to both protect the past and find the future of yellow tea. With the help of volunteers(Pedro & Xu), and the patient guidance of Chen Lifeng and several villagers in Golden Chicken Mountain, we have made two batches of hand-picked, pan-roasted, kneaded, and smothered yellow tea that will, in the future, be candidates for pressing. If you buy a cake or tong of 2026 Golden Cock, you will receive an exclusive sample of one of these batches:
Batch 1: 10 days of total yellowing, 2 electric roastings + 1 charcoal roasting, higher-temp kill-green. Using late July leaves and thorough 2-hour charcoal roasting, this tea won the recognition of all the villagers and township locals who tried it. It is as close of an approximation to the Summertime Big Yellow as can now be found on the market.
Batch 2: 5 days of total yellowing, 2 election roastings + 1 round of sun drying, lower-temp kill-green. Using mid-August material, this pick was undertaken on the very last day of the traditional picking season here. With a mind to make more pressed, ageable yellow teas, we have tried to process this tea as close to raw Puer tea as possible.
My only regret is that I only bought a 25g sample of it. The other reviewers were spot on. Coming back to purchase a cake or two once I've budgeted enough.
This was delightful! Layered toasty berry woody floral goodness that didn't quit for 9+ sessions. It aged well considering I bought it a year later. Not something I've had a problem with the dancongs from ORT though. Smooth, deep, resonant. Will be buying the 2026 version soon! Hopefully, ha.
This tea is a solid choice, but strictly for those who enjoy a distinct bitterness! 🍃
This tea features a noticeable bitter note that stays with you throughout the entire session, rewarding you with a wonderful sweet aftertaste (hui gan). Plus, it packs quite a strong Cha Qi (tea energy) that you can really feel.
If you appreciate a bold, energetic profile with a pleasant bitter-to-sweet transformation, this one is definitely worth a try!
It’s smooth, sweet, and very enjoyable, though noticeably different from the first batch. It’s not better or worse—just different. This new version features lighter roasting, bringing out fresher, fruitier notes compared to the heavier roast of the first batch.
It would be amazing to have both options available at the same time: the more heavily roasted batch 1 and this lightly roasted version, so you could choose based on your mood. Still, it’s a wonderful and unique tea!
