Roasted Wild Tree Purple

As you probably guessed from the teas in the Leaves of Cha Tea Chest, I love Yunnan black teas. The smoothness and low-astringency allowed me to kick my “English Breakfast with milk and honey” habit and just enjoy the tea. The wide variety of cultivars and styles that come from the province are mind-boggling. Purple Tea is one of those unique teas. There are three cultivars of purple tea and this is the naturally occurring original, knows as “Ye Sheng” or “Wild Tea”. Originally used to make puerh since it is quite bitter young but develops delicious complexity with age, it has recently started to processed into black tea with stunning results. This roasted version is one of my favorite black teas and a very common start-of-the-day tea for me. I’m incredibly happy to be able to source this rare tea. Provenance: Origin: Mangshi, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China Grower/Teamaster: Mr. Li Elevation: 1600-2200 meters Harvest Date: Spring 2024 Cultivar: Ye Sheng cultivar aka "Camellia s