Brewer's Note: Honey Tea Brew - Oolong Black

A honey tea mead brewed exclusively with Horiguchi Seicha's original "Oolong Black"—a 75% fermented tea leaf that sits between black tea and oolong.

The key tea used is sourced entirely from Horiguchi Seicha, a company whose motto is "Fanning the flames of tea production and challenge."
We used this historically significant Horiguchi Seicha original Oolong Black, varying the cutting ratios and steeping times to build a layered, expansive flavor profile.

To maximize the potential of the tea leaves, we conducted a joint production under the comprehensive supervision of Mr. Tajimi, owner of wacasu in Tokyo.

As this is the first mead we brewed among the three types being released this time, it represents the beginning of the story between Horiguchi Seicha, wacasu, and ANTELOPE.

To clearly bring out the characteristics of the Oolong Black, we were meticulous about our hot-steeping method, repeatedly revising the heating process until the flavor was just right. We then mixed the resulting concentrated tea with honey and fermented it at a high temperature using a yeast noted for its plum-like acidity and aroma.

Just before fermentation ended, we briefly steeped the tea leaves in the liquid once more, then aged it in wooden barrels. It was finished with secondary bottle fermentation.

All products are handled by "Ohsumi Sazen".

Click here for inquiries〉https://sazen.jp/
Instagram 〉https://www.instagram.com/ohsumisazen

〈Tokyo → Shibushi → Yasu〉

This project began with a meeting with Mr. Tajimi, the owner of wacasu in Tokyo.
We first met just after the end of the summer before last.

A wild, colorful-looking person came to our factory────

He looked around the factory, showed interest in many things, and before we knew it, without a single doubt, we were saying, "Let's make a mead using tea."

Mr. Tajimi travels back and forth between Tokyo and Shiga as if they were neighboring towns.
He invited us to treat Shibushi the same way, and we at ANTELOPE just zipped right over. That was where we met the wonderful people at Horiguchi Seicha, whose tea we used for this release.

Their representative, Daisuke-san, seems to be constantly taking on new challenges—he is the Shohei Ohtani of the tea industry.
But he's always working incredibly hard, so even when he goes out for drinks with Mr. Tajimi, he usually ends up falling asleep somewhere. Daisuke-san is truly loved by everyone, and he gives us the drive to take on new challenges.

〈Tasting Note〉
12% ABV. Aromas of plum and passion fruit. From deep within, a roasted oolong-like aroma emerges gracefully, like someone slipping through a shop curtain. It is carbonated, so please enjoy chilled. Recommended pairings include roast duck, escabeche, and dried figs. Enjoy a new tea culture at bars or restaurants.

ーーー

Style: Tea Mead
ABV (Alcohol Content): 12%
Carbonation: Yes
Content: 750ml, 500ml
Ingredients: Honey (Myanmar), Semi-fermented tea (Oolong Black)
Sweetness (1-10 scale): 3 (Semi-Dry)
Serving Temperature: Well chilled (4-8℃)
Pairing: Roast duck, escabeche, dried figs