The Wild Tea Collected Near the China-Myanmar Border

Myanmar Border Wild Pu-erh Tea is a raw pu-erh tea. It is made from a wild tea variety growing near the China-Myanmar border. Wild tea means that the tea tree grows in the mountains, just like wild mushrooms or wild plants, in a natural environment and is not cultivated by humans. If you are keen to know more about wild tea, please refer to the following page. The video was made in 2011 when I went to Wu Liang Shan mountain to explore wild tea trees.

Exploring wild tea trees in Wu Liang Shan

Wild tea is different from old tea trees

Wild tea is different from old tea trees. I have noticed that people sometimes call old tea trees wild tea. This is incorrect. Wild tea involves no human hands, and it grows naturally in the wild. Normally, people of the ethnic minorities go up into the mountains, pluck the wild tea and bring it back to their village. It is just like going to the forest or mountains to look for wild herbs or mushrooms.

Myanmar Border Wild Tea is made from Camellia sinensis

In fact, this is not the first wild pu-erh tea we have introduced. We have been selling Da Xue Shan wild pu-erh tea and Wild Spring Bud. These teas are made from Camellia taliensis, a species very close to Camellia sinensis. The tea bud of Camellia taliensis is bigger than that of Camellia sinensis, and it gives a strong flavour that reminds me of the fresh bark of forest trees, with a hint of apple and grape fruitiness. Myanmar Border Wild Pu-erh Tea, on the other hand, is made from Camellia sinensis. The flavour of this tea has a lot in common with normal raw pu-erh tea.

Well managed pan-frying process

Myanmar Border Wild Tea is an extraordinarily well-made tea, which is very rare for a wild pu-erh tea. In particular, the pan-frying process was very well controlled, and hence the tea leaves give no burnt flavour at all. The reason why I say "it is very rare for a wild tea" is that wild tea is normally collected by farmers for their living. However, most wild tea grows in forests far away from the villages. For this reason, it is rare for wild tea to be processed with appropriate facilities or by a skilled tea master. Wild teas are often over-fried by the farmers, which causes a strong burnt flavour. Myanmar Border Wild Pu-erh Tea is exceptionally well fried, and it gives the clear flavour of fresh raw pu-erh tea.

Overwhelming body

The main characteristic of Myanmar Border Wild Pu-erh Tea is its overpowering body. It is a full-bodied tea, and you can enjoy a long-lasting sweetness on the palate. The flavour is slightly floral, like fresh marigold, with a hint of fruitiness like figs, and it leaves a honey-like lingering sweetness. This tea can be enjoyed not only when it is fresh, but also after aging.

For more about wild tea, please see What Is Wild Tea?. Our wild teas are available in our wild tea collection.