Notes of lychee, red plum, and sweet vermouth.

Red tea from Yunnan, China・April 2018・野生古樹紅茶・Arbor/Biodynamic

Our Old Tree Yunnan Red was grown in Fengqing County, Lincang Prefecture, Yunnan. This region of Southern China boasts the country’s oldest tea trees – some hundreds of years old with deep root structures that allow a higher absorption of nutrients and minerals. Because of their age, the trees that produced this tea have adapted to the local ecological environment. As a result, they are resistant to most pests and diseases and require neither watering nor fertilizing.

This tea is a labor of love from a producer with a passion for crafting heritage teas that are remarkably delicious. The leaves that went into this tea were picked in April 2018, then shade-withered to bring out clarity and sweetness. With a deft nurturing hand, the leaves were bruised, oxidized, and pan-roasted in small batches. The resultant maocha, or unfinished tea, was wrapped in canvas and roasted over charcoal. The finished tea was then sorted by hand, selecting only the most evenly sized leaves.

The resultant tea leaves are a uniform 2cm with a beautiful satiny sheen. The brewed tea is smooth, sweet, and fragrant with a vermillion liquor. Old Tree Yunnan Red's flavor profile is a wonderful amalgamation of lychee, red plum and sweet vermouth. The result is balanced with the round sweetness of an aged bourbon.

Brew: 5 grams・150 ml・208° F・1 min

We prefer quick infusions to extract this tea's fruit notes and sweetness - and repeating the short brew time for subsequent infusions.