New Release of High Mountain Purple Tea 2024

We have released High Mountain Purple Tea from the 2024 harvest. This year, we were able to closely manage the production by staying on-site, allowing us to optimize the pan-frying process, resulting in a tea rich in aroma.

A Very Rare Purple Tea

Purple tea is a distinctive and rare variety of tea typically found in the high-altitude tea gardens of Lincang, at around 2000 meters above sea level. Although there is a well-known cultivar called Zǐ Jīn Chá from southern Yunnan, this tea is different from that variety. Purple tea boasts a long history, with some trees surpassing 100 years of age, which makes its history much longer than that of Zǐ Jīn Chá. However, the precise origins of this unique tea remain somewhat unclear. Due to its rarity, purple tea is cultivated and owned by only a small number of farmers, making it highly sought-after and considered a precious type of tea.

Sustainable Tea Garden of Purple Tea

The producer we collaborate with inherited a substantial number of ancient purple tea trees from their ancestors, a rare and valuable legacy in their region. Their large-scale purple tea garden stands out as one of the few of its kind. Situated at an elevation of 2100 meters, the tea grown in these high-altitude gardens and the sustainable farming methods—using no pesticides or fertilizers—develops a remarkably refined character, offering a long-lasting, intricate aftertaste.   Purple tea trees

Purple Tea Changes to a Distinct Color When Processed

Purple tea is distinguished by its partially purple stems, and when processed into raw Pu-erh or black tea, its color changes to a rich dark purple to indigo hue. The leaves are longer and contain more moisture compared to ordinary tea leaves. Its higher viscosity indicates an elevated saponin content, which adds to the tea's distinct texture and mouthfeel. Visually, purple tea closely resembles the Camellia sinensis plant, unlike the Camellia taliensis species, which is noticeably different in appearance. This resemblance further highlights purple tea’s unique status within traditional tea cultivars while showcasing its subtle yet distinct differences in composition. Purple tea leaves

Purple Tea Exhibits an Aged Tea Aroma Even When Freshly Produced

Purple tea stands out for its unique and distinctive aroma, which bears similarities to the fragrance of aged teas even when it is freshly processed. When processed into pu-erh tea, it develops scents reminiscent of perilla leaves or a fruity aroma like dried dates. This year, we stayed in Yunnan, and by continuously monitoring the pan-frying process and controlling the temperature, we managed to avoid over-exposing the tea to high heat. Although there is still room for improvement, we are quite satisfied with the result.

Purple Tea Transforms Remarkably with Aging

For those familiar with purple tea, it's well known that the tea undergoes significant changes as it ages. Although there are several aging methods, anaerobic aging—where oxygen is completely removed—best enhances the tea's distinctive dried fruit aromas, bringing out its full potential. To preserve this unique characteristic, we ship our purple tea in an oxygen-free environment. For optimal aging and flavor development, we recommend storing the tea in its original, unopened packaging in a warm room, allowing it to evolve and mature over time. This careful aging process helps elevate the tea's complex fragrance and taste.