“This is an overall very strong tea, not necessarily one to serve to strangers. It has a complex aroma, bitter flavour profile with a fragrant aftertaste and a punching, heady cha qi. I would...” Read full tasting note
Origin: 800 m. above sea level, Yuchi Township, Nantou county, Taiwan,
Harvest: Summer 2021
Cultivar/Tree Variety: Shancha 山茶
Temperature of water and amount of leaves: 90 C 4g/100ml. (we don’t recommend boiling water here)
The garden where I found our best Taiwanese black teas was also one of the most beautiful gardens I visited during my autumn trip to Taiwan. First impression when you entering the garden is the sound – pleasant noise made by flies, insects and birds hiding in the trees nearby. Organic garden is like a natural habitat – where spiders, snakes, bugs and other can live safely without the risk of killing by pesticide or herbicide spraying. The tea trees look natural – with spider’s nets between the branches, bug bitten leaves and life spreading everywhere around. This garden, located near Yuchi, cultivates three tea cultivars: native Shan Cha, Assam#8 and finally Ruby #18
Shancha is a native cultivar officially registered in 2009 as camellia formosensis. It grows in Yuchi area of Taiwan for centuries. Even if now it’s also domesticated, this is quite unique and rare cultivar.
Bushes of shancha can grow big like camellia assamica. Young buds are beaituful: reddish/purple – you can see them on attached photos.
You should know shancha was one of two teas (with assamica bush from Myanmar) that created well known Ruby #18 bush called Hong Yu.
We tasted many shancha from different farmer and all of them were different!
Our organic shancha is full bodied and highly aromatic black tea. Thick, with solid malty-honey base and herbal (almost menthol like) aroma. You will find it here also fruits of the forest and woody nuances.
Texture is intriguing – vibrant and spicy with sweet aftertaste coating the tongue and palate for long time.
Very powerful, invigorating and warming energy.
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