Shuixian Red

Notes of cherry liqueur, champurrado, and rose de mai. Red tea from Taiwan・May 2022・水仙紅・Unsprayed Shuixian is a relatively rare cultivar in Taiwan, grown in just a handful of gardens across the island. On the steep slopes of Lishan mountain, in a picturesque plot bordered by pine trees with sweeping mountain views, the Chang family has made this varietal their primary focus. The garden’s geography is ideal; high elevation slows the development of the leaves, adding sweetness to the tea, while the root structures, buried deep in the nutrient-rich soil, add depth. This combination of factors produces tea leaves that are rich in anti-oxidant catechins and sugars- the foundational building blocks of flavor, texture, and aroma. Yet despite the merits of the location, this is a difficult garden to reach. Solely accessible through a small fire road, these tea trees were, until recently, inaccessible due to a massive landslide. Now cleared, other challenges faced this year’s harvest. Significa