Zuo Ruyu Honey Flavor Wild Tea Bud 2023 - 18g

Zuo Ruyu Honey Flavor Wild Tea Bud 2023 - 18g

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Another wild tea from Taiwan. This time, it is not a mature tea, but rather a young tea full of the wild energy of Taiwan. It will yield as many infusions as you want, and you really need to pour it quickly, as this is just the slightly tamed energy of the Taiwanese rainforest :).

These teas come from the original Taiwanese variety Camellia formosensis. It is a large-leaf species, very similar to Assamica. The difference is that the terminal buds of this species are smooth and without fuzz. These tea trees are mainly found in mountainous areas. 

The varieties in each region differ slightly in leaf appearance and taste. Of course, they are harvested by hand and only once a year, with very limited production. These wild teas have great potential for further aging.

The indigenous people also used to produce tea from wild tea trees, but it was not processed to a high standard. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot destroyed the area and wiped out all the industry that employed the local people. At that time, Zuo Ruyu was conducting research on wild tea trees and decided to lease land with wild tea trees, as it is not possible to buy this land. She began working with locals who harvest leaves from old trees, and Zuo then ensures processing and production based on her extensive experience, making it possible to create a truly unique tea.

These areas have very fertile soil and a large temperature difference between day and night. The original tea trees grow near old cypresses, firs, pines, and other local wild species. The roots of the trees intertwine and compete with each other for nutrients. The tea leaves from these trees are full of vitality, have a unique aroma, and are naturally pure, growing freely and wildly without human care.

Honey Flavor Wild Tea Bud comes from Arbor tea trees, i.e., old, large, mature trees that grow in the Wutai forests and are not artificially planted. The altitude of the tea trees is around 1,200 meters above sea level.

A beautifully processed whole leaf, mostly dark in color, with a very intense, fresh, sweet and sour aroma. 

A very distinctive taste combining fresh and sour fruit, forest honey, Taiwanese forest, and the typical taste of Camellia formosensis tea.

It is completely different from what you would expect from the Taiwanese teas you know. However, it is still playful, mysterious, and truly wild. It is as if it is halfway to Gushu sheng, but with a very interesting spectrum of flavors. It can withstand many infusions, perhaps 8-10, maybe even more.

This is not a tea for beginners, it is a tea for people who have already tasted different flavors and are not just looking for pleasant fruity and floral tones, but a deeper experience. Moreover, it is a very limited tea, so I would be happy if it did not go to waste..

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Brewing for 150 ml:

- 6g of tea, water 95-100°C, first infusion 15-20 seconds, subsequent infusions 5-15 seconds, according to personal preference, it can withstand many infusions. I recommend a smaller volume, maximum 150ml.

The 18g package is for 3 full tea sessions.