JCL 60429B  Amber Oolong, Chinsing Oolong cultivar
Signature bake by Dr. Jerry Liu on May 15-21, 2018, at 14520 Arrow Hwy, Baldwin Park,
 Califronia. 
Thomas gave me this tea for my 2018 Summer Baking.
We believed that this 1999 Spring crop Jade Oolong, of Chinsing Oolong cultivar from Shan Lin Si, still 
had some undiscovered qualities. 
First, we started with a Mid-Fire bake 
program, which resulted in a nice tea with elegant color and a slightly 
revived taste.  We thought that the flavor was not completely revealed,
 thus we decided to continue with a partial High-Fire bake, without over
 exceeding the high temperatures to burn the tea leaves.  The result is 
an Amber Oolong with a smooth round flavor, and a touch of sweetness in 
the finish.  This program was a good match to revive a 
nearly 20 year old tea.  Our baking regiment was a 12 hour Mid-Fire bake, with
 an additional 8 hour High-Fire baking combination. 
Net 2 oz. each packed in vacuum seal air-tight in a paper caddies. 
Limited edition.  Total 60 caddies.
a) Before Baking:
b) After initial removing the moisture...
 
3) After the first round Mid-Fire baking...
 
 
4) After Re-baking with partial High-Fire baking...
 
Backstory:
Rummaging through the warehouse, a couple of 5lb bags of this Spring 
crop from 1999 ShanLinSi Jade Oolong (*Chinsing Oolong cultivar) was discovered.  
It was the unused stock from a previous buyer who had purchased most of 
the stock, until 
he/she switched to something else...  At the 
time, it was purchased at $150/kg (kinda pricey back in 1999).  Although
 it was vacuumed packed, and stored properly, the tea tasted a bit stale 
(everyone should Always Cup to check your teas). 
Normally, with an 
older stock, it can 
be sold at a much lower value, or blended with other teas leaves (no 
artificial or non-tea items...those "blends" are NOT tea), We said 
"Nay"!  The problem 
with blending is that it would compromise the taste of the tea, 
especially with flavor of other added tea leaves.  Blending with non-tea
 items are NOT blended teas, they are blended non-teas. Since both 
options were not really valid in our view, we decided to bake the tea ,
just to bring back some of the original flavor/aroma.  Initial steps 
were to remove the moisture from the stale leaves.  Another cupping 
revealed that it lacked flavor, and potentially more baking was 
required.  Thus, we decided to continue with a 
Mid-Fire baking regiment.  Although a nice aroma had 
emerged, it lacked flavor.  We decided to continue with a short 
High-Fire baking sequence.  The result was an exquisite 
sweet smooth slightly richer flavor Oolong.  We are proud of how this 
Vintage Oolong can be enjoyed now, and for many years to come.  We will 
have to use this recipe again.