MORNING GONGFU
SPECIAL BLEND
RED (BLACK) TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
MORNING GONGFU is our signature award-winning breakfast blend, created from carefully selected high-quality red (black) teas sourced from some of the world's finest tea-growing regions. Made entirely from pure Camellia sinensis without additives or flavorings, this blend became the starting point of our tea blending journey and remains one of the most successful and beloved recipes we have ever created. Rich, smooth, and beautifully balanced, the infusion offers notes of malt, dried fruits, honey, and warm spices, creating a comforting and energizing cup designed to accompany the beginning of a new day. MORE
GOLD MEDAL at THE GOLDEN LEAF AWARDS 2023
"Black tea: Breakfast Blend (Non flavoured)" Category
AROMA
Nutty, coffee, chocolate
TASTE
Woody, chocolate
AUTHOR: Andrei Ivanov
PRODUCTION: 2026
RED (BLACK) TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
MORNING GONGFU is our signature award-winning breakfast blend, created from carefully selected high-quality red (black) teas sourced from some of the world's finest tea-growing regions. Made entirely from pure Camellia sinensis without additives or flavorings, this blend became the starting point of our tea blending journey and remains one of the most successful and beloved recipes we have ever created. Rich, smooth, and beautifully balanced, the infusion offers notes of malt, dried fruits, honey, and warm spices, creating a comforting and energizing cup designed to accompany the beginning of a new day. MORE
GOLD MEDAL at THE GOLDEN LEAF AWARDS 2023
"Black tea: Breakfast Blend (Non flavoured)" Category
AROMA
Nutty, coffee, chocolate
TASTE
Woody, chocolate
AUTHOR: Andrei Ivanov
PRODUCTION: 2026
According to studies, red/black teas can absorb heavy metals and toxins, as well as break them down. Medical experiments show that red tea alkaloids excite the central nervous system, increase concentration, and improve mental abilities, which strengthens memory. Alkaloids also stimulate the cardiovascular system and increase heartbeat, thereby accelerating blood circulation. It has a revitalising effect and helps in digestion processes.
Learn more about the BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
EASTERN (PIN CHA)
Temperature: 95-99 °C
Amount: 5-7 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 10-30 sec x 5
WESTERN (INFUSION) ★
Temperature: 95-99 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 2
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
MORNING GONGFU by AN SHIM TEA
ABOUT
MORNING GONGFU is the blend that marked the beginning of AN SHIM TEA's journey into the world of professional tea blending. Created in 2022, it emerged from a simple but ambitious idea: to produce high-quality red (black) tea blends made exclusively from pure Camellia sinensis while maintaining the standards and philosophy traditionally associated with Gongfu tea. At a time when the world of specialty tea often focuses on single-origin, single-harvest, and single-cultivar expressions, we wanted to explore a different path by blending these exceptional teas and create unique flavors didn't exist before.
The name MORNING GONGFU reflects this philosophy. By combining carefully selected teas from different origins and crafting them into a harmonious whole, we sought to pay tribute to the art of blending while introducing new dimensions of flavor, balance, and emotional experience into the world of high tea culture. Rather than competing with traditional single-origin teas, the blend was designed to complement them, offering an alternative perspective on how tea can express complexity, harmony, and depth through thoughtful composition.
One of the defining strengths of MORNING GONGFU is its versatility. The blend performs exceptionally well across both Eastern and Western brewing styles, allowing tea lovers to explore its character through long infusions in a teapot or through multiple Gongfu-style infusions. In both approaches, the tea demonstrates balance, consistency, and aromatic development, making it equally accessible to newcomers and highly rewarding for experienced tea lovers seeking greater complexity.
The quality and uniqueness of the blend received international recognition in 2023, when MORNING GONGFU was awarded a Gold Medal at The Golden Leaf Awards 2023 in the category "Black Tea: Breakfast Blend (Non-Flavoured)." Since its creation, it has remained our most successful and beloved blend, consistently standing among the best-selling teas in the AN SHIM TEA Collection. More than a breakfast tea, MORNING GONGFU represents an important chapter in our story and continues to demonstrate how pure Camellia Sinensis, skillfully blended, can create an experience that is both familiar and entirely new.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves display a rich and attractive blend of carefully selected red (black) teas, combining dark brown, copper, and golden tones that reflect the diversity of origins used in the composition. Their appearance immediately suggests depth and complexity while maintaining a refined and harmonious visual character. The aroma of the dry leaf is warm, inviting, and highly expressive, offering notes of malt, dark honey, dried fruits, cocoa, sweet grains, caramelized sugar, and subtle hints of warm spices. In a preheated teapot or gaiwan, the aroma becomes increasingly layered, revealing additional notes of baked bread, raisins, roasted nuts, dark berries, molasses, and delicate chocolate-like sweetness. As the leaves awaken, the blend develops remarkable aromatic richness while maintaining clarity and balance.
The liquor is bright, clear, and luminous, displaying a deep amber-red color characteristic of high-quality red tea blends. The aroma of the infusion is rich and comforting, combining notes of malt, honey, dried fruits, sweet grains, cocoa, baked pastries, and gentle spice nuances. The texture is smooth, round, and satisfying, coating the palate without heaviness while maintaining excellent structure and drinkability. The taste is balanced and highly approachable, gradually revealing layers of dark honey, dried dates, raisins, toasted bread, caramel, cocoa, roasted nuts, and subtle fruit sweetness. Whether prepared using Western or Gongfu methods, the tea demonstrates remarkable consistency and depth, with each infusion revealing additional dimensions of aroma and flavor while preserving its characteristic harmony.
The aftertaste is long, warm, and comforting, leaving lingering impressions of honey sweetness, malt, dried fruits, and gentle cocoa notes in the mouth and throat. As the session progresses, the blend becomes increasingly smooth and integrated while maintaining its rich breakfast tea character. In the empty cup, the aroma remains highly expressive, revealing lingering notes of baked bread, dark honey, dried fruits, caramel, cocoa, roasted nuts, and subtle spice undertones that continue long after the final sip.
GASTRONOMY
MORNING GONGFU was created as a true breakfast blend and pairs exceptionally well with both traditional morning meals and refined gastronomic experiences. Its rich malt character, honey sweetness, and balanced structure complement buttery croissants, fresh bread, toasted pastries, scones, pancakes, waffles, and oatmeal-based dishes. The tea's depth allows it to accompany richer breakfast foods while maintaining elegance and freshness on the palate.
The blend also performs beautifully alongside savory dishes. Eggs, smoked salmon, aged cheeses, quiches, breakfast sandwiches, roasted vegetables, and light poultry dishes pair naturally with its smooth texture and warm aromatic profile. The tea's subtle cocoa, dried fruit, and honey notes help create balance between savory and sweet elements, making it an exceptionally versatile table tea.
For desserts, MORNING GONGFU pairs particularly well with baked pastries, honey cakes, fruit tarts, caramel desserts, shortbread, chocolate-based creations, and desserts featuring nuts or dried fruits. Its ability to be brewed both Gongfu style and Western style makes it equally suitable for a contemplative tea session or as part of a complete breakfast or brunch experience.
MORNING GONGFU is the blend that marked the beginning of AN SHIM TEA's journey into the world of professional tea blending. Created in 2022, it emerged from a simple but ambitious idea: to produce high-quality red (black) tea blends made exclusively from pure Camellia sinensis while maintaining the standards and philosophy traditionally associated with Gongfu tea. At a time when the world of specialty tea often focuses on single-origin, single-harvest, and single-cultivar expressions, we wanted to explore a different path by blending these exceptional teas and create unique flavors didn't exist before.
The name MORNING GONGFU reflects this philosophy. By combining carefully selected teas from different origins and crafting them into a harmonious whole, we sought to pay tribute to the art of blending while introducing new dimensions of flavor, balance, and emotional experience into the world of high tea culture. Rather than competing with traditional single-origin teas, the blend was designed to complement them, offering an alternative perspective on how tea can express complexity, harmony, and depth through thoughtful composition.
One of the defining strengths of MORNING GONGFU is its versatility. The blend performs exceptionally well across both Eastern and Western brewing styles, allowing tea lovers to explore its character through long infusions in a teapot or through multiple Gongfu-style infusions. In both approaches, the tea demonstrates balance, consistency, and aromatic development, making it equally accessible to newcomers and highly rewarding for experienced tea lovers seeking greater complexity.
The quality and uniqueness of the blend received international recognition in 2023, when MORNING GONGFU was awarded a Gold Medal at The Golden Leaf Awards 2023 in the category "Black Tea: Breakfast Blend (Non-Flavoured)." Since its creation, it has remained our most successful and beloved blend, consistently standing among the best-selling teas in the AN SHIM TEA Collection. More than a breakfast tea, MORNING GONGFU represents an important chapter in our story and continues to demonstrate how pure Camellia Sinensis, skillfully blended, can create an experience that is both familiar and entirely new.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves display a rich and attractive blend of carefully selected red (black) teas, combining dark brown, copper, and golden tones that reflect the diversity of origins used in the composition. Their appearance immediately suggests depth and complexity while maintaining a refined and harmonious visual character. The aroma of the dry leaf is warm, inviting, and highly expressive, offering notes of malt, dark honey, dried fruits, cocoa, sweet grains, caramelized sugar, and subtle hints of warm spices. In a preheated teapot or gaiwan, the aroma becomes increasingly layered, revealing additional notes of baked bread, raisins, roasted nuts, dark berries, molasses, and delicate chocolate-like sweetness. As the leaves awaken, the blend develops remarkable aromatic richness while maintaining clarity and balance.
The liquor is bright, clear, and luminous, displaying a deep amber-red color characteristic of high-quality red tea blends. The aroma of the infusion is rich and comforting, combining notes of malt, honey, dried fruits, sweet grains, cocoa, baked pastries, and gentle spice nuances. The texture is smooth, round, and satisfying, coating the palate without heaviness while maintaining excellent structure and drinkability. The taste is balanced and highly approachable, gradually revealing layers of dark honey, dried dates, raisins, toasted bread, caramel, cocoa, roasted nuts, and subtle fruit sweetness. Whether prepared using Western or Gongfu methods, the tea demonstrates remarkable consistency and depth, with each infusion revealing additional dimensions of aroma and flavor while preserving its characteristic harmony.
The aftertaste is long, warm, and comforting, leaving lingering impressions of honey sweetness, malt, dried fruits, and gentle cocoa notes in the mouth and throat. As the session progresses, the blend becomes increasingly smooth and integrated while maintaining its rich breakfast tea character. In the empty cup, the aroma remains highly expressive, revealing lingering notes of baked bread, dark honey, dried fruits, caramel, cocoa, roasted nuts, and subtle spice undertones that continue long after the final sip.
GASTRONOMY
MORNING GONGFU was created as a true breakfast blend and pairs exceptionally well with both traditional morning meals and refined gastronomic experiences. Its rich malt character, honey sweetness, and balanced structure complement buttery croissants, fresh bread, toasted pastries, scones, pancakes, waffles, and oatmeal-based dishes. The tea's depth allows it to accompany richer breakfast foods while maintaining elegance and freshness on the palate.
The blend also performs beautifully alongside savory dishes. Eggs, smoked salmon, aged cheeses, quiches, breakfast sandwiches, roasted vegetables, and light poultry dishes pair naturally with its smooth texture and warm aromatic profile. The tea's subtle cocoa, dried fruit, and honey notes help create balance between savory and sweet elements, making it an exceptionally versatile table tea.
For desserts, MORNING GONGFU pairs particularly well with baked pastries, honey cakes, fruit tarts, caramel desserts, shortbread, chocolate-based creations, and desserts featuring nuts or dried fruits. Its ability to be brewed both Gongfu style and Western style makes it equally suitable for a contemplative tea session or as part of a complete breakfast or brunch experience.
"MORNING GONGFU later became the foundation of a broader collection inspired by the classic rhythm of Western tea culture. Following its success and the recognition, we were inspired to continue exploring the possibilities of high-end tea blending and created AFTERNOON GONGFU (2024) and EVENING GONGFU (2025). Together, these three blends form a unique trilogy united by the same philosophy of using only pure Camellia sinensis and teas of the highest quality, while expressing three distinct flavor profiles traditionally associated with different moments of the day. MORNING GONGFU offers richness, structure, and energy, AFTERNOON GONGFU emphasizes elegance, floral complexity, and refinement, while EVENING GONGFU focuses on softness, comfort, and contemplative depth."
— Andrei Ivanovs, Founder of AN SHIM TEA
— Andrei Ivanovs, Founder of AN SHIM TEA
RED (BLACK) TEA BLENDS
Explore more Red (Black) Tea Blends from the AN SHIM TEA Collection.