Onomea Bay Oolong (Owners' Reserve)

Some teas are grown. This one is waited for. Our Owners’ Reserve Onomea Bay Oolong is the farm’s most treasured expression — harvested only when the owner determines the pekoes and the field have reached their optimal moment for oolong. That window may come just twice a year. When it does, we move quickly — and the result is something truly special.

This is a tea for connoisseurs. Expect an exceptional balance of floral and smoky notes with a remarkable depth of flavor — a single amber cup that showcases the full oolong spectrum at its most refined.

🌿 About This Oolong

• Harvest timing: Not on a schedule — the owner carefully watches weather patterns and field conditions, harvesting only when the pekoes are at their peak. This may happen as few as twice a year, making each batch genuinely rare.
• Oxidation: 40–80% depending on the harvest — each batch is a unique expression of the season and the land, ranging from bright and floral to rich and smoky
• Leaves: Pekoe tips harvested with one extra leaf below — intentionally included to shield the tender top leaves during the multi-step process, preserving their delicate character all the way to your cup
• Twist: Carefully hand-twisted to protect the integrity of each leaf through processing
• Processing: A multi-step artisan process that can span 1–2 days or more — each stage carefully timed to coax the best from every leaf

Because oxidation is guided by each harvest’s character rather than a fixed formula, no two batches of Owners’ Reserve are exactly alike. That’s not a limitation — it’s the whole point.

🌿 Grown with the Land, Not Against It

Our tea plants thrive in two distinct growing environments, each lending its own character to the cup.

• Ocean Peninsula — open land overlooking the Pacific, bathed in sea breezes and island sunshine
• Agroforest — grown beneath the canopy of native Hawaiian trees, where dappled light and rich forest soil create a more complex, layered flavor

Grown using regenerative and organic methods — no chemicals, ever. Guided by the Hawaiian value of mālama ʻaina — to care for the land — our practices work with the natural ecosystem of Papaikou, Hawaiʻi, building the health of the ʻaina for generations to come.

☕ How to Brew

The Owners’ Reserve rewards patience. Thanks to the extra protective leaf and careful hand-twisting, these leaves are built for depth — delivering up to 4 distinct infusions, each one a different chapter of the same remarkable tea.

Amount: 2–3 grams per 6–8 oz of water  ·  Temperature: 208°F

Steep times by infusion:

1st steep — 1 minute
2nd steep — 3 minutes
3rd steep — 5 minutes
4th steep — 7 minutes

💡 Our traditional hand-twisted leaves take time to breathe and fully open. Allow each infusion to unfold at its own pace — the reward is a uniquely different tasting experience with every steep. Discard leaves within 12–24 hours.

Mahānui loa for supporting our mission to share the goodness of Hawaiian-grown tea with the world. 🌎 Connect with us — Facebook: @ancientleaftea · Instagram: @ancientleaf