TRES No. 17 Ruan Zhi Oolong

TRES No. 17 Ruan Zhi Oolong is a delicacy from the misty highlands of northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province. The cultivar was brought from Taiwan under the Royal Project as an alternative to opium poppy farming, and the region has since become a pilgrimage site for tea lovers.

The legendary No. 17 cultivar, also known as Ruan Zhi (Soft Stem), grows above 1200 meters and is picked entirely by hand to the highest standard — a flush of two top leaves and a bud.

Thanks to its higher oxidation, this oolong reveals a rich flavor palette: each steeping brings bright notes of osmanthus, ripe apricot and exotic mango that melt into a deep honeyed sweetness.