Wild Honeybush Black

Wild Honeybush comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as "Hunter." Mr. Fan is a unique tea artisan in that he does not own any land himself, and does not work with a tea farm. Rather, he focuses on crafting tea from wild and semi-wild abandoned tea trees in the mountains; his wealth lies in his understanding of their location and seasonal rhythms.

Wild Honeybush is made from tea trees that are over 100 years old. They grow wild, at an elevation of 4000 ft, around the village of Zhenghe. The trees are a small-leaf varietal, native to the vast alpine forests in the area. In these old growth forests the wild tea trees compete with a variety of other types of trees, all seeking precious, diffused sunlight. At such high altitudes they are challenged by the wind and the quickly changing conditions. Thus, the roots of the tea trees must extend deep into the earth to anchor themselves and draw nutrients. They grow slowly, accumulating these rich nutrients and compounds in their leaves.

The craftsmanship of Wild Honeybush is somewhat experimental. It integrates aspects of the traditional craftsmanship of Fujian Oolong into the process for crafting a Fujian black tea. This means that the tea is charcoal roasted in two rounds, accentuating the complexity and minerality of the tea leaves. The result is a particularly perfumed and robust black tea with mineral qualities that remind us of an oolong. Its scent is particularly intriguing: like ashes, cinnamon, and dried flowers.