Mr. Zhang, elevation 1000 meters, showing how tea is harvested. These are some of the largest sized tea leaves ever seen, suitable for a fragrant oolong for sure!
The Shuixian varietal is similar to Dancong at Phoenix Mountain….
The Shuixian varietal is similar to Dancong at Phoenix Mountain. These groves, clusters of giant bonsai, or dwarf trees that are 8 feet tall going on 40 feet, live to couple thousand years or more. These ones on Mr. Zhang’s property is about 150-200 years old. There is no substitute for being wild, or old- the teas made from these knarly bushes will put one to tears. Crisp burnt toast fragrance with nuts and cinnamon gives way to smooth, velvety, cooked butterscotch with a hint of magnolia fragrance. A divine tea. And dearly acquired. Our trek into this wild kingdom of giant bamboo forest consisted of a mad smattering of wild trees just hanging out near the creek, without road access nor foothold. The travelers, including the 8 year old, were intrepid indeed.
Old Grove Shuixian wild tea bushes at Wuyishan, belonging to Mr….
Old Grove Shuixian wild tea bushes at Wuyishan, belonging to Mr. Zhang. We will have a bit of this but in reality, only 30 jins are produced a year!
A place with zero aerial nor ground pollution, where you can…
A place with zero aerial nor ground pollution, where you can drink off the creek water, all kinds of butterflies and birds buzz peacefully overhead, the sky is a crystal ball blue and the clouds no less dramatic than the Bay Area. People are laid back and friendly. The food is always farm fresh and just a tad spicy. Such a place exists, as a good example of what is possible for the future of China. With economic prosperity, environmental protection will hopefully come into consciousness with more rapidity. Or, more effectively and quickly, a couple of polluters need to be executed on TV, and overnight, everything will get cleaned up. That is how China works: the double edged sword of dictatorship by committee.
Peering into the void. How many eons has this stone face been at…
It was a highly serendipitous day, against all odds, and an…
It was a highly serendipitous day, against all odds, and an impossible chance was seized. Few people were allowed inside Tong Mu Village, and foreigners were not allowed at all. Then, we were introduced to a Mr. Zhang, whose generational traditional tea is never sold outside. His wild tea made in both the traditional pine wood smoked style and the new version that is clean and sweet tasting, were both absolutely fantastic. The pristine terroir shone obviously from the first, to the 15th infusion. The Tea Gods gave us another gentle push, to keep introducing the best of the best in every region. How do I know this is superior? Come taste and compare it yourselves. It’s not even a challenge.