TTES No. 13, also known as CuiYu Tea, is a new variety developed by the Taiwan Tea Experiment Station. Officially named “TTES No. 13” in 1981 with the breeding line code 2029, it is also commonly referred to as “Er-Jiu-Zai.” It ranks among the top five tea plant varieties in Taiwan.
Origins of TTES No. 13 CuiYu Tea
Bred from artificially cross-pollinated tea plants dating back to the Japanese colonial era, CuiYu was created by selecting Tainong No. 80 as the male parent and Yingzhi Hongxin as the female parent, and was officially named “TTES No. 13” in 1981. Wu Chen-tuo, the then-director of the Tea Experiment Station, named it “CuiYu” after his mother.
Variety Characteristics
TTES No. 13 is a small-leaf, mid-maturing variety with broad oval leaves, slightly purplish bud tips, and rich, dark green foliage. It features moderate growth vigor, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, making it well-suited for producing Baozhong and Oolong teas. Its standout characteristic is its distinct varietal floral aroma, highly prized for its rich notes of white ginger lily or betel nut flower.
Cultivation Status
It is cultivated across major tea-growing regions from northern to southern Taiwan. You can find it in places like Pinglin (New Taipei City), Dongshan Township (Yilan), Zhushan and Mingjian (Nantou), Chiayi, and Taitung, with cultivation primarily concentrated in mid- to low-elevation tea regions.
The Store Manager's Insights on TTES No. 13 CuiYu Tea
The defining feature of CuiYu Tea is its varietal floral aroma. Depending on the climate and tea garden management, it can exhibit notes of white ginger lily, betel nut flower, and orchid, which is the major selling point of CuiYu.
Its downsides are that its yield falls short of JinXuan and isn’t much higher than Qingxin Oolong, while its drought and disease resistance are not particularly remarkable. In the machine-harvested-dominated tea region of Mingjian, because the tea bud density is relatively low and harvesting efficiency lags behind JinXuan and SiJiChun, many tea plantations have switched to other varieties, leading to a steady decline in production in recent years.
Currently, CuiYu Tea is produced in the largest quantities in Mingjian Township (primarily machine-harvested), Zhushan Township, and Pinglin (New Taipei City). Premium-grade CuiYu features an orchid-like aroma close to that of Qingxin Oolong, with an even lighter and more uplifting scent, making it highly sought after in the market. Quite a bit of CuiYu Tea is used as a substitute for Qingxin Oolong or for blending purposes.