A question from a PTT netizen: I’m looking for the finest purple bud mountain tea black tea. I’ve tried several at tea shops and wasn’t satisfied. How should I choose good purple bud black tea? Are there any recommended vendors for purple bud mountain tea black tea?
Tips for Selecting Top-Grade Purple Bud Mountain Tea Black Tea
The finest SunMoon Lake wild purple bud black tea is undoubtedly the competition tea from Yuchi Township Farmers’ Association. If you are looking for loose-leaf tea, you can visit tea shops around SunMoon Lake, which is the best producing region in Taiwan. The prime harvesting season for purple bud black tea is from June to August, with the purple bud wild tea harvested in June and July offering exceptional woody notes and astringency. When tasting and selecting, you can evaluate based on the following aspects:
Dryness and Leaf Uniformity
- Dryness: The tea leaves should feel slightly prickly when gently grasped in your hand, and they should crumble easily when pinched between your thumb and index finger, indicating good dryness with a moisture content below 5%.
- Leaf Uniformity: The shape and color of the leaves should be even and uniform. The fewer stems, tea fragments, dust, and impurities present, the better, as these factors affect the quality of the tea liquor.
Aroma and Color
- Aroma: Black tea should feature a distinct caramel aroma. Teas with a burnt smell, green grassy odor, stale scent, or heavy roasted flavor are not considered top-tier.
- Color: After brewing, the liquor of the purple bud wild black tea should appear dark brown, vibrant red, clear, bright, and glossy. If the color is dull, uneven, or turbid, it may be of inferior quality.
Taste of the Tea Liquor
- Taste: Purple bud wild black tea should be smooth, mellow, and sweet on the finish (hui gan), with a strong, fresh, and brisk character—traits of a fine tea. If the taste is flat, offering only sweetness without astringency, the quality is lower. Top-grade purple bud wild black tea also carries woody notes and ripe fruit flavors; it is best to have an experienced tea enthusiast guide you when exploring these.
Creaming Effect
- Creaming Effect: High-quality purple bud wild black tea will exhibit a phenomenon known as “creaming” when cooled, clearly visible as a bright golden ring inside a white porcelain cup. This is an insoluble colloidal precipitate and a characteristic of rich, high-quality black tea.
The Ultimate Purple Bud Wild Tea: Purple Bud Wild Honey Black Tea
Aside from award-winning competition teas, the absolute best purple bud black tea is “Purple Bud Wild Honey Black Tea,” made from purple bud wild tea leaves bitten by the Jacobiasca formosana (tea green leafhopper) prior to harvesting. In addition to the characteristic woody notes of the purple bud wild tea, it releases a rich honey aroma. However, since the tea green leafhopper is considered a pest, tea farmers generally try to prevent their presence, making purple bud Honey Black Tea a rare and serendipitous find.