Taiwan Wild Black - Shan Cha
Taiwan Wild Black - Shan Cha
Taiwan Wild Black - Shan Cha Information
Water Temperature:
200 -212°FBrewing Time:
3 MinutesIngredients:
Handpicked black teaOrigin:
Yuchi Township, TaiwanVirtually unknown in the West, Shan Cha’s use as an infused drink was first recorded in Chinese writings dating back to the 17th century. Its botanical characteristics are similar to those of the Assamica (India) tea bush. It is a shrub that prefers a wild, mountainous habitat with altitudes ranging between 1,000m to 1,500m. Four distinct protected areas have been put in place in central, south, and eastern Taiwan for the preservation of this national treasure, which is revered as the father plant of some of the most unique and distinctive tea hybrids in Taiwan.
These leaves, the essence of Shan Cha, are not just picked but carefully selected from wild trees by the Yin family. Their early morning ritual, rising at 4 a.m. during the picking season of late June and July, is a testament to their dedication and respect for the tea. Roaming the mountains with the local Indigenous people, they search for the perfect wild tea plants.
Like Oriental Beauty and Gui Fei Oolong, Shan Cha is also an insect-bitten tea. Prior to harvesting, a small leaf hopper nibbles the leaves, prematurely initiating the oxidation process that results in its distinctive honey aroma and woody taste.
Yields multiple infusions.
Taiwan Wild Black is my favorite black tea. Flavorful, woodsy, rich. There is something about teas from Taiwan; they are unlike any other tea. This tea is best way to start the day.