Red Jade T-18 Organic “Primeur” Curled White Tea, Lot 802

Similar to our Organic Fragrant Jade Qing Xin Green Tea, Lot 801, this new 2019 white tea earns the unusual qualifier in being a ”Primeur” tea. It is neither a spring tea, nor a true winter tea as it was made from a flush or tender shoots picked in the middle of January 2019 – a time when tea bushes are usually dormant. Needless to say, this is an unusual occurence. To this date, winter has been particularly warm and sunny tricking the tea bushes into activity. Still, with the reduced sunlight of winter months, the growth occurs at a slower pace creating a fine and even-leafed plucking which in turn produces a rich, yet surprisingly mellow tea. This Lot 802 continues with our explorations into the new uncharted territories of white tea making using the iconic Taiwanese-developed Hong Yu T-18 tea cultivar from which the emblematic Red Jade Black Tea is made. Just like last spring’s Organic Shou Mei White Tea, Lot 702, this very fine plucking of young tender shoots were hand-picked, gently laid to wither and periodically hand-fluffed to stimulate oxydation. Afterwards, a very gentle rolling occurred to curl the leaves and finally desiccate them to lock-in their lush fragrance. The resulting dry leaf looks quite dark but produces a fairly clear liqueur. As soon as the water touches the leaves you will see how this cultivar is so fragrant! The fresh eucalyptus, cinnamon and camphor-like coolness is truly heady. The liqueur is sweet, thick and oh so smooth! This is by far the most mellow Red Jade White Tea we’ve made, and we will dare say the best up to date! A truly pleasant unique offering that we are proud to propose exclusively to our Taiwan Tea Crafts clientele. Get some while it last as this is a very limited quantity Lot.