Recently, I roasted an oolong in the Teahouse and documented the process in a YouTube video. This project was one of the longest I've ever worked on, as the footage spanned about a month and a half. Roasting tea is not a continuous process—it doesn’t roast for 12 days straight. Instead, the tea roasts in intervals, typically for 3 to 5 hours on a given day, then rests and settles for several days before the next roasting session. This cycle repeats multiple times, allowing the tea to develop complexity and depth.

Because of this extended roasting process, filming also took a long time, and editing the video became one of the most time-intensive YouTube projects I’ve completed to date.

The oolong we started with was a blend of several high-mountain oolongs from Taiwan. These teas were on the greener side in terms of oxidation but had been aged in storage for 7 to 12 years. For those familiar with aged oolongs, you know that this amount of time in storage can develop a distinctive "storage flavor." This flavor results from subtle changes and oxidation that occur as the tea ages, creating unique characteristics that are both earthy and gentle.

Aged oolongs are one of our favorite categories of tea. Their familiar, comforting qualities remind us of an old friend—warm, grounding, and rich. While we could have continued to let the tea age further, we decided to take a different approach by roasting this blend of high-quality oolongs.

My goal was to give the tea a substantial shift in its flavor profile, bringing it closer to the characteristics of classic roasted oolongs like Da Hong Pao or Iron Goddess of Mercy, which I love.

This meticulous roasting process lasted 12 days (spread out over 45 days in total), with each session lasting 3 to 6 hours. Afterward, the tea was allowed to rest between roasting sessions, giving it time to develop complexity. The result of this labor of love was a tea we’ve dubbed Celestial House Roast.

This past weekend, we featured Celestial House Roast at a tea tasting event, and it was a standout favorite. People loved its light floral notes combined with the rich, roasted sweetness that came from the 12-day roasting process. The tea strikes a beautiful balance between brightness and depth, making it a truly special experience for tea lovers.

This batch of Celestial House Roast is now available for purchase on our website and in the shop. We’re excited for you to try it! If you’d like to order, give us a call or visit our website, and we’ll be happy to set some aside for you. Remember, we ship tea all over the United States, so no matter where you are, we can get your favorite teas.

We have plenty in stock, but this tea won’t last forever—don’t miss out on this incredible batch!