Why Wild Tea Is Delicious
Wild tea refers to tea that grows naturally in the mountains, not cultivated through human agriculture.
We source wild Camellia taliensis tea from Da Xue Shan in Lincang.
When people hear "wild tea," many associate it with harshness, bitterness, or astringency. However, think about it carefully — wild means natural.
Wild mushrooms, wild seafood, and mountain vegetables all share a distinctive and exceptional flavor.
The common traits of wild foods include a long-lasting aftertaste, a clean and refreshing quality, and a strong flavor that is uniquely natural.
Wild tea harvested in early spring is akin to fresh mountain vegetables.
The wild tea we offer is free from bitterness or astringency, delivering a clear and concentrated liquor.
With a high concentration of minerals, it provides a sensation that spreads through the body, almost as if it permeates the cells.
Change in Wild Tea Sourcing Since 2019
In 2019, before the pandemic, I stayed in the region for two months, visiting many villages in Yongde County.
My goal was to gather information and explore new sources of wild tea and tea gardens at high altitudes.
One day, guided by a relative of my tea producer, I visited a village near Da Xue Shan where residents made their living by harvesting bracken ferns.
This remote mountain village, reachable only after several hours of driving, depends primarily on bracken fern harvesting for income.
These ferns are predominantly exported to Japan, where they are used in dishes such as mountain vegetable udon and soba.
During my visit, I learned that the villagers, with their extensive knowledge from searching for bracken, also know the locations of naturally growing wild tea.
Through their introductions to other villages and locals, we successfully began sourcing new wild tea from 2020 onward.
For the actual procurement, I relied on a family of tea producers I have worked with for many years.
Securing authentic wild tea requires reaching out in advance to express purchase intentions, then visiting the villagers to pay in cash on the spot.
Authentic wild tea is exceedingly rare and in high demand, making it increasingly difficult to obtain.
Despite the use of the term "genuine," the majority of so-called wild tea available in Yunnan is actually cultivated tea from managed gardens.
Based on my observations, approximately 95–98% of the "wild tea" in the market falls into this category. Even if the tea plants are of wild species, they are grown through human intervention and cannot be considered true wild tea.
Introducing Low-Temperature Pan-Frying
Wild tea is often processed by ethnic minority farmers in mountain regions.
As a result, temperature control during pan-frying is often imprecise, leading to excessive oxidation of the tea's components.
We aimed to improve the pan-frying conditions for wild tea and experimented with various approaches to identify the optimal method.
By pan-frying at lower temperatures, we can suppress the thermal decomposition of the tea's components, ensuring a smoother and more refined result.
Imagine a well-executed stir-fry of vegetables: the pan is heated to the optimal temperature before the vegetables are added, allowing them to cook evenly while preserving their natural aroma and texture.
However, excessive heat applied for too long once the moisture has been driven off can cause scorching, diminishing the ingredients' intrinsic qualities.
The pan-frying process for tea requires the same level of precision and care to achieve the desired result.
By staying on-site and working directly in the production areas, we were able to refine the pan-frying process.
As a result, the 2024 Da Xue Shan Wild Tea has an exceptionally smooth texture and a more sophisticated aroma.
Recommended for Beginners, Cold Brewing, and Aging
Wild tea has a distinctive aroma, making it an excellent introduction to raw Pu-erh tea for beginners.
Its fruity, grape-like aroma lingers gently after swallowing, leaving an elegant sweetness in the mouth.
It can be enjoyed brewed with hot water, but is equally delightful when cold-brewed.
Da Xue Shan Wild Tea also offers a unique experience when aged.
After aging in an oxygen-free environment for over a year, it develops a honey-like sweetness.
Further aging for several years intensifies its rich fruity aroma.
