Yuchi Assamica

Yuchi Assamica is a rare tea from the scenic Sun Moon Lake area of Taiwan, crafted from a TRES #8 assamica cultivar. Long, thin, wiry leaves produce a rich amber liquor with a sweet-savoury scent. The complex taste is tangy, mineral, herbaceous and lightly malty.

Brewing guide: 2.5g in 250ml water at 90°C for 3-4 minutes

£4.00£14.00

(10-50g)

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Origin:Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan
Elevation:700m
Cultivar:Assamica (阿薩姆) TRES #8
Harvest time:17 March 2024
Sourcing:From farmer via Taiwanese Tea Master

Description

Yuchi Assamica (魚池鄉阿薩姆) is a wonderful showcase of the complex and unusual black teas that are produced in Taiwan. This black tea is crafted from a TRES #8 Assamica cultivar that is grown at an altitude of around 700m in Yuchi Township, located on the edge of the picturesque Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) in central Taiwan. It was hand picked on 17 March 2024 and is sourced by us from the grower via our Taiwanese tea master.

This Yuchi Assamica is made from the TRES #8 cultivar that is also known as the Assamica tea plant in Taiwan. This particular cultivar was registered by the Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) in 1973. It was selected from camellia sinensis var. assamica plants that were originally brought from Assam in India.

The story of the arrival of these plants goes back to the Japanese colonisation of Taiwan. During the Japanese rule of Taiwan (1895-1945) the Japanese established the first Tea Research Institute in Taiwan with a view to create a black tea industry to rival the black tea exports of the British Empire. In the 1920’s, the first camellia sinensis var. assamica tea plants were introduced from Assam in India and planted around the Sun Moon Lake area as this was judged to have the perfect growing conditions. The production quickly took off and Taiwan was producing black tea on a large scale until the end of the Japanese rule at the end of World War II. After World War II the production of black tea declined significantly as it became too costly and unprofitable for the farmers.

Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi, Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station undertakes significant research and selection procedures for Taiwanese tea cultivars and started building up a catalogue of standardised cultivars, the first of which were registered in 1969. Some of the descendant plants of the camellia sinensis var. assamica plants originally introduced by the Japanese were selected and recognised as the new TRES #8 cultivar. In a nod to the origins of this tea, this cultivar is still known as the Assamica cultivar in Taiwan.

Sun Moon Lake is still the epicentre of black tea production in Taiwan. Our Yuchi Wild Shan Cha and Yuchi Red Jade (TRES #18) are the other examples of the very fine black teas of this terroir.

This Yuchi Assamica has very large twisted leaves that have a savoury aroma. The liquor produced has a rich amber colour with good clarity and a sweet-savoury, fruity and vegetal fragrance. The produced flavours are complex and multi-layered. The taste, much like the aroma, is sweet, yet savoury. It has a soup-like thickness of flavour, reminiscent of the taste of a vine tomato soup. There are lightly mineral, malty and herbaceous notes. The overall flavours are clean yet complex, signifying a tea of great quality. The aftertaste has a nice mineral and savoury touch with a hint of assam-like astringency that serves as a gentle reminder of the origins of this cultivar.

We suggest brewing at 90°C for 2-3 minutes according to your taste. It should be brewed multiple times as each infusion brings out new exciting flavours!

This Yuchi Assamica black tea was first featured in our January 2019 Curious Tea Subscription Boxes.