Organic GABA "Made in Thailand" Oolong

$24.00 USD

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Tasting notes

About these tasting notes

These are the tasting notes we and others pick up most often. Palates vary, so you may catch some, all, or different ones — flavor is personal and subjective. Nothing is added: there are no added flavorings in this tea. Any notes you find developed naturally in the tea plant through rediscovered artisanal processing techniques.

Pumpkin

Almond

Dried Figs

Plum

Effects

About these effects

These are the effects people most often report from this tea. Bodies differ, so treat them as a common guide rather than a promise — most people notice at least one, but what you feel is personal.

Relax

Soothe

Mild Euphoria

GABA oolong - using nitrogen to soften the leaves

GABA Oolong 佳葉龍 (Jiā yè lóng) began with a slightly weird idea: instead of allowing the freshly-plucked tea leaves to oxidize outdoors, what if the tea maker deprived the leaves of oxygen altogether? This technique was originally developed in Japan and later embraced by the Taiwanese tea world, the leaves are placed in a nitrogen-rich, oxygen-free environment, creating the conditions for naturally occurring compounds in the leaf to transform into GABA. It is this unusual method of anaerobic processing that gives GABA Oolong its unique blend of cozy, warm tasting notes.

What is "GABA" you might ask? Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid works as the brain’s calming mechanism, reducing overactive nerve cells to soothe you body's central nervous system. This signaling pathway is critical for overall mind-body balance, impacting how we manage stress, anxiety, sleep, and muscle function. In short, this tea is great for keeping your body relaxed and comfortable!

This tea comes from Choke Chamroen Tea Plantation, high in the mountains of Northern Thailand, a place not too far from Yunnan Province, the birthplace of tea itself! The interesting connection to our tea shop is that this is originally a Taiwan Tea Cultivar Ruan Zhi (軟枝) (literally, "Soft stem"). Although this tea cultivar is often confused for Qing Xin (青心) it is actually "technically" a hybrid cultivar, brought from Taiwan to Thailand. What this means is that you will get some deep, rounded, and very pronounced flavor notes that bring to mind freshly baked bread, warm cookies, and a hint of candied fruit.

Staff Notes:

This tea reminds me of a pumpkin pie or pecan pie, very comforting! The aroma of baked goods mixed with a hint of spice immediately made me think of Autumn. This is perfect if you like Pumpkin Spice Lattes but want a zero calorie option that brings you same warm feeling, AND with the added benefit of the GABA compounds literally relaxing your body as you sip away!

Old Mountain Tea Guarantee

Our teas are guaranteed free from harmful chemicals. We source directly from small, clean family farms that take real pride in their work — no middlemen, no anonymous blends. Many of these teas are bug-bitten, and leafhoppers only feed on gardens grown without pesticides, so the leaf itself is living proof the garden is clean. Most of our teas are certified organic (USDA & EU), and every tea is traceable to the farm that made it.

Read our full guarantee →

Unique Tea Process, High Mountain OolongOrganic FarmsSmall Batch ProductionHand-harvested & ProcessedNo Added Flavors or Preservatives — Ever!Secure Checkout30-day Returns

Certified Organic — USDA & EU

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Origin & Terroir

Cultivar About this cultivar Ruan Zi (軟枝) is a hybrid Taiwanese cultivar, often associated with Qing Xin, however it seems to be a common misconception. This cultivar differs because of its softer stem and genetic variance, so it is more accurately categorized as different. It is used for High Mountain Oolongs, has a medium yield and a mix of smaller and midsized leaves.: Ruan Zhi(軟枝) (literally, "soft stem")
Status About this status GABA tea is most typically sourced from either Japan (where it originates) or from Taiwan. To encounter a uniquely processed oolong like this from Thailand is not extremely rare, but it is not very usual either. Enjoy tasting the unique terroir of northern Thailand, every tea grown in its place has beautiful defining features of its own.: Uncommon
Processing method: 佳葉龍(Jiā yè lóng) - nitrogen gas fermentation
Charcoal roast level: 0%

Region: Hey Go Village, Tambon Mae Salong Nok, Maefahluang, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Harvest: Spring 2025
Elevation: 1170 meters
Climate: Warm, Sunny, Mountaneous
Oxidation level What oxidation level means Oxidation is what turns green tea into oolong or black tea — as leaves are bruised and rested, enzymes react with oxygen and deepen their color and flavor. Green tea sees almost none; oolong ranges widely; black tea is oxidized fully.: (30% · Medium)
Picking style Why picking style matters Hand-plucking means workers select each bud and leaf by touch, one at a time — far slower and more expensive than machine harvesting, but gentler on the leaf. As labor costs rise, fewer gardens still pick this way, making hand-plucked tea increasingly rare.: Hand Plucked
Bug-bitten level: 0%