Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark brown, slightly curled
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Steep Time: 5 seconds
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: amber
I’ve really enjoyed working my way through Azenbor’s selection of dancong oolongs. The almond and ginger flower varieties were both great. However, I’ve been eager to try the Yellow Gardenia since it is one of my all-time favorite teas. I’ve heard that the name could be a mispelling or interpretation of Huangju, the local name for kumquat blossoms. Either way, it is a tea that is well worth trying! This particular tea is the 2025 spring harvest from Chaozhou in Guangdong, China.
Leaf
The dry leaf Azenbor Yellow Garden Fragrance was dark, long, and twisted. I noticed a floral and earthy aroma with the slightest hint of smokiness. I prepared this tea in a porcelain gaiwan following Azenbor’s recommendation of flash steeps for the first three infusions, then adding 5 seconds for each subsequent round. Fully boiling water is best for this type of tea, but you can reduce that a bit if you find it is too astringent for you.
Liquor
Azenbor Yellow Gardenia Fragrance brewed up an amber liquor. The taste was extremely floral with a smooth sweetness. Gardenia blossoms definitely come to mind, and the effect was almost perfumy. The aroma lingered long after each sip. I also noticed a concentrated sweetness on the tip of my tongue. Subtle notes of honey and citrus evolved throughout each infusion.
Later rounds were slightly drying, but not unpleasant at all. This is a tea that you’ll really want to take your time with. Slow down and take the time for a gongfu session. I really enjoyed this tea, but I think the Xing Ren Xiang might be my favorite fragrance in the collection so far. I really like that Azenbor offers a sampler box so you can try them all.
Have you tried Azenbor Yellow Gardenia Fragrance? Let me know your thoughts about it in the comments below!
Yellow Gardenia Fragrance provided for review by Azenbor.
Join the Community
Please support my work in tea by joining my Patreon community. Give what you can and receive access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, my private Discord server, surprise quarterly packages, and more!