TTES No. 9 was developed by the Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) in Taiwan through an artificial cross between the male parent Kyang cultivar and the female parent Hongxin Damao. Officially named TTES No. 9 in 1975, it yields good quality when processed as black or green tea. The bushes are wide-spreading with exceptionally vigorous growth, offering high yields and making it well-suited for machine harvesting.
Tea Cultivar: TTES No. 9
TTES No. 9 is a hybrid bred from the male parent Kyang (an Indian broad-leaf variety) and the female parent Hongxin Damao (a small-leaf variety). Its advantages include exceptionally high yield, strong plant vigor, broad processing suitability, adaptability to Taitung’s climate in Taiwan, and suitability for mechanical harvesting.
Excerpt from the National Cultural Memory Bank: TTES No. 9 was developed through artificial hybridization using Hongxin Damao as the female parent and Kyang as the male parent. Originally designated as Line 435, it was officially named TTES No. 9 in 1975. During the same period, 26 lines and 3 control cultivars (Qingxin Damao, Jaipuri, and Tainong No. 29) participated in regional trial selections. The 26 lines were divided into two groups, each with 13 lines tested alongside the 3 control cultivars. Group A trials were held at the main station, Guanxi, and Ruisui in Hualien; Group B trials took place at the main station, Toufen, and Binglang in Taitung. Based on regional trial results, TTES No. 9 demonstrated outstanding characteristics. It achieved the highest fresh leaf yield across all three Group B trial sites—particularly in Taitung, where yield exceeded Qingxin Damao by more than double (122%) and Assam by over 50%. It boasts high yield, strong adaptability, uniform budding, robust growth, and tender buds, making it ideal for mechanical harvesting. It produces excellent green tea in spring and fine black tea in summer and autumn. Additional characteristics include elongated leaves, dark green color, thicker leaf texture, and tongue-shaped leaf tips. Overall, TTES No. 9 features high yields, versatile processing suitability, and suitability for mechanical harvesting, making it well-suited for cultivation in Taitung’s newer tea regions.
Our Observations on TTES No. 9
While it produces good yield and quality for black and green teas, it is only mediocre for mainstream lightly fermented oolongs. Moreover, its black tea quality falls short compared to TTES No. 18 and TTES No. 8, leading to very minimal cultivation in recent years. Pictured is TTES No. 9 in April, featuring thick stems, fleshy leaves, and a solid yield.