Estate Guide: Wattegodde Yoxford Oolong – A Limited Micro-Lot Ceylon Oolong Tea
Vintage wines stand out from the crowd because of the quality of the vines and the terroir they are grown in. Similarly, although quite rare tea, also has its superstars.
From the mist-draped hills of Talawakelle something extraordinary has been brewing: Wattegodde Yoxford Oolong.
This handcrafted micro-lot is drawn from the historic Yoxford division of Wattegodde Estate, once a coffee estate in the 19th century before being replanted with tea. For decades, Yoxford’s fields lay neglected, but amongst the neglect lay something remarkable: seedling tea bushes planted nearly 150 years ago, their deep taproots drawing nutrients from soils long enriched by highland rains.
With the arrival of a new Superintendent, the Yoxford fields were carefully cleared and restored. These venerable bushes, survivors of the transition from coffee to tea, now yield a leaf that reflects their extraordinary depth of history.
Unlike the estate’s mainline production of orthodox rotovane teas that are sent to auction. The Yoxford harvest is treated with the reverence of a fine vintage.
In the early hours of dawn every leaf is hand-picked, ensuring freshness and vitality. By 10 a.m., the baskets are full, and the day’s pick is carefully carried to the factory. There, a gentle wither prepares the leaf for careful hand rolling a lost art in many parts of the world.
The tea undergoes a short, controlled oxidation, just enough to coax out the warm, honeyed hues that define an Oolong. Finally, the leaf is sun-dried, allowing nature itself to seal in the complexity of flavour.
This is not mass production. Only one kilo of tea is crafted at a time each batch, a testament to patience, precision, and artistry.
The Wattegodde Yoxford Oolong reveals itself slowly, much like a vintage wine. The aroma carries whispers of highland mist and warm wood, underpinned by floral notes. The liquor is mellow yet rounded, with layers of honey, stone fruit, and a subtle mineral finish that speaks to the depth of its roots.
This is a tea to be savoured, contemplated, and shared among connoisseurs an invitation to taste both history and place in every sip.
As with the greatest estate wines, availability is limited. Each kilo is the work of hands, heritage, and time. Wattegodde Yoxford Oolong is more than just a tea it is a revival, a story, and a collector’s piece of Ceylon’s living legacy.
At PMD we have been encouraging estates to make the aromatic, flavourful teas that my grandfather would have enjoyed when he was my age. With machinery, mass production and the continued push for cheaper teas by large buyers. The team at Wattegodda are championing real craft, real tradition and most importantly reminding us all what real tea tastes like.
Discover Wattegodde Yoxford Oolong – available now in extremely limited quantities.
