This January, we flew from our home in Shenzhen to Taichung with a clear goal: to reconnect with the farmers we've worked with over the past few years and check out the new winter harvest. The trip was short and targeted. In those few pockets of free time we had, we could explore, get creative, ask questions, and stumble onto some unexpected finds.

Each of the teas that we are releasing has a characteristic that leaps out of the cup. It's a lineup that's both well-rounded and innovative. These teas are limited, as always, by their seasonal and small-production nature and the knowledge that we may never carry them again. But, that's part of the excitement for me. Some people collect postcards or refrigerator magnets — I like tea.

Here's a quick rundown of everything that dropped:

1. Among Clouds

Among Clouds is a Qing Xin Ruan Zhi wulong that became a perennial favorite when we held farmer's market booths in Pennsylvania and Oregon. It's easy to see why, with its crisp and clean character that gradually opens up from the tightly rolled balls of leaf.

For me, the Winter Harvest is the most exciting version of the tea. It leans darker, more vegetal, and carries a nice depth that you don't always see in Gao Shan Wulong. It's not the Spring's airy, perfectly floral character, but something heartier and meditative.

We've built a solid relationship with the family behind this tea, and will keep bringing it as long as you all keep asking for it.

2. Sun Burns

Sun Burns is a Hong Yu (Number 18) from Sun Moon Lake and, in my opinion, one of Taiwan's most fascinating and dynamic cultivars.

Originally developed by the Tea Research and Extension Station, Hong Yu is a cross between Assamica and Taiwan Shan Cha (wild mountain tea). It makes up less than 2% of Taiwan's total tea production each year, probaby explaining why you don't often see it off the island.

Many of you will remember our previous Hong Yu, Sunbather Red. This one comes from a different producer within the same region and brings a different expression of sweetness than fans may be used to. While most Hong Yu leans fruity, floral, jammy, and sweet, this one is richer and darker, with an herbal, minty quality that feels almost medicinal. The moment I tasted it, I knew it was special.

3. Super Natural

Super Natural is one of the most fascinating teas I've come across in a while.

It comes from the same fields that produced Among Clouds, but everything about its production and seasonality is different. This tea is made from Dong Pian (冬片) leaves, an unusual late-season growth that occurs during unseasonable warm spells, most often December-February.

The total harvest was tiny, around four kilograms, and we could only get a small portion of that. Technically, it's a Hong Cha made from high mountain (or, Gao Shan) material, but if you look at the leaves, they appear only partially and unevenly oxidized.

The result in the cup is unlike anything I've tasted before: resinous, piney, spicy, almost cedar-like. It's intense in a way that's hard to categorize. The producers tell me this is an experimental batch, and I don't know if we'll ever see something like it again from them. I'm thrilled to have it, even for a moment.

4. Wild Violet

Wild Violet is a beautiful example of Taiwan Shan Cha (山茶), which means "mountain tea" and refers to Taiwan's indigenous wild tea, Camellia formosanensis. Unlike the more commonly cultivated Camellia sinensis, which grows across mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and India, Taiwan Shan Cha grows wild in Taiwan's central mountain region, where this tea was harvested.

What makes this batch especially interesting is a genetic variation in the cultivar that causes the buds to have a purple tinge. It's all-natural, not the result of some Alice In Wonderland-style flower painting shenanigans.

After oxidizing into Hong Cha, the base color isn't always prominent, but under the right light, you can still catch a bluish hue in the leaves. More important than the look, however, is the flavor. It's bright and fruity on the nose, with mangosteen and white grape notes, and a soft, grainy body that reminds me of a dry, clean pilsner.