Yesheng Hong - Wild Black 2024 No.640

An extraordinary black tea, harvested from wild tea trees (Yesheng) in the subtropical jungles of Yunnan. The wild arbor leaves have purplish color and give an incredible rich complexity to the tea, with a long, savory aftertaste. Drinking it we experience the wisdom of the old trees. First, we bought a small batch of this outstanding tea in 2016, since then, just certain years can provide this specific tea due to the changing weather conditions.

This year's Yesheng Hong is special in that the leaves were harvested from a single old tree ('dan zhu' - 单株),
making a total of 7.5kg of tea this year.

The sweet, deep notes of barley malt, pumpkin, and sweet potato unfold in the steamed aroma.

First infusion (90°C, 20s):
A subtle green freshness accompanies the sweet potato. The malty, caramelized notes dominate the taste, while its pleasant sweetness lingers on the palate. The tea gently flows through the body, warming the stomach and lungs.

Second infusion (90°C, 20s):
Faint citrus notes join the honeyed, dry aroma. The steamed scent retains its green, vegetal character, which beautifully complements the wild sweetness of the brew. A long, green aftertaste remains at the end of the sip, gradually fading away.

Third infusion (90°C, 30s):
The dry aroma takes on a perfumed, sweet character. The warmth of the infusion radiates from the center of the chest, flowing through the body and reaching the limbs. A sense of peaceful alertness washes over us—like being wrapped in a soft, weighted blanket that quiets the outside world and invites introspection. The aftertaste is long, while the tea itself is deep and multi-layered, worthy of being savored slowly.

Quantity: 7-8 grams of tea for 180 ml of water
Water temperature: 85-90ºC, preferably fresh spring water, mineral water or filtered water
Brewing time: 10-20...seconds
Infusions: 6-8