High Mountain Gaba 2024 No.546

Qing Xin 青 心 Jade Green Heart is one of Taiwan's most legendary teas. It originates from the Chinese province of Anxi and was brought to Taiwan by tea farmers in the late 19th century. In our opinion, the best high mountain oolongs are made from this Green Heart variety. This Gaba was plucked at the end of May at an altitude of 1300 metres. As we know, spring Gabas always have more typical Jade Green Heart notes, such as flowery, greenish flavours with the well-known Gaba aromas of spices and mulled wine. The tea master has done a very good job of blending the flowery flavours with the distinct high mountain, Gaba mood. We've got an interesting and complex world of taste of Gaba tea. As the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a key role in regulating the excitability of neurons in various neural functions such as motor activity, learning and sleep. In the 1980s, a process was discovered in Japan to increase GABA levels in tea leaves to produce a calming, balancing tea. GABA is an anaerobic fermentation technique, during which a large amount of natural GABA accumulates in the leaves. This compound is known for its great muscle relaxant and stress-relieving effects. Read more about the calming effects of Gaba teas in our blog: https://zhaozhoutea.com/gaba-drinking-tea-to-relax/

The tea's aroma is a blend of oily, slightly earthy notes of pumpkin seed oil, spicy, sour notes of wine fermentation, and sweet, rich notes reminiscent of chestnut. On the palate, an aniseed spiciness dominates at first sip, complemented by the sweet, mellow character of mixed floral honey. This is followed by a delicate, creamy sweet potato flavour that gives the tea a unique, rich taste. The infusion is particularly sweet, vanilla, and fruity, with a hint of marzipan, while the flavours are spiced with green notes, pumpkin, cinnamon, sweet corn, and milky rice. This is a truly complex tea that we can confidently recommend to those new to the world of tea. The relaxing notes of the Gaba are subtle and harmonious, creating a pleasant overall effect in the taste experience.

Quantity: 6-7 grams per 180ml
Water temperature: 85-90ºC. From fresh, cold spring water or filtered water
Brewing time: 15-20…seconds
Infusions: 5-6