Taiwan Native Wild Tea, also known as Taiwan wild tea, is an indigenous tea tree species of Taiwan. It is characterized by its purplish new buds, natural floral and fruity aromas, and woody notes. Currently, the major production area is located around SunMoon Lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou, Taiwan.
Though it is an indigenous Taiwanese species, not many people cultivated it in the past because making semi-fermented Oolong tea from it resulted in high bitterness and astringency. Over the past decade or so, as SunMoon Lake black tea has grown in popularity, people discovered that turning it into black tea brings out wonderful floral-fruity aromas and unique woody notes. Cultivation started to pick up after 2010.
Although Taiwan wild tea makes exceptional black tea, low yields and difficulty in cultivation remain major drawbacks, so total production volume is still quite small.
Store Manager’s Observations
The most distinctive feature of this tea tree is that its new buds often carry a hint of light purple, with thick leaves and robust stems. Its yield is slightly higher than that of TTES No. 18 (Ruby), and it produces tea seeds very easily. Based on our observations over recent years, the quality is at its best in June and July. Occasionally, we come across batches of native wild black tea with a honey-like “xian” aroma, which are absolute top-tier finds. The August-to-September harvest has a richer, bolder flavor, making it a great choice for those who prefer stronger tea.
As you can see in the photos, the new buds feature a delicate purplish hue, which looks even more stunning in person. Wild tea tends to lean more towards a pale purplish-cyan. Additionally, there is a variety called “Ziyun Tea” (Purple Rhyme Tea), a cultivar recently released by the Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) with even more prominent purple new buds (shown below). We will introduce it next time.
