Goodbye Wuyishan!
The Camellia Sinensis is remarkably long lived. Some trees in…
The Camellia Sinensis is remarkably long lived. Some trees in Yunnan are 2700 years old plus. These ones on Wuyishan brought by the migrating minority She tribal people, could be more than 1000 years old. How many generations have these been around? Some regions keep better records than others, but most farmers can cite back 4 generational memories. Tea is about longevity, experience, and one’s respect for it. It should not be a mass produced plant harvested 40 times a year and stripped of its essence in 15 years. It is a piece of culture, history, and like grandparents, watching over the people who produce tea from them.
Mr. Zhang, elevation 1000 meters, showing how tea is harvested….
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.