DRAGON CLAW | VIETNAMESE WILD 'YA BAO'

Minimally processed, wild tea buds from northwest Vietnam's mountains brew a mind-blowing cup.

Trà Móng Rồng (Dragon Claw Tea) is known as 芽苞 (Ya Bao, literally translated as 'bud') in Yunnan.  Needless to say, the Vietnamese get the award for the cooler name.

This batch is from our friend Lầu (see below), who is not only a talented producer, but also a responsible steward of the wild trees.

Experience:  green apricots, retsina (wine), southern France spice cabinet

Handcrafting:  

Origin:  Vi Xuyen, Ha Giang, Vietnam

GPS:  22.8°N 104.8°E

Harvest:  March 2022

Tree type:  wild, old

Bud type:  green & purple, sweet

Tea Artisan:  Lầu TV  (pronounced 'Lo')

Lầu was born and raised in the highlands of Ha Giang.   Beyond the ancestral tea knowledge of the local Dao people, Lầu learned tea handcrafting skills from his uncle, who lived and worked both in Yunnan and Fujian.  Rooted in tradition but not bound by it, Lầu strives to create tea that will fascinate the drinker. 

One of those old tea trees.

No fancy equipment, simply delicious 'mountain' tea.

The next generation:  she who enjoys delicious tea, made at home.

Brewing Suggestions:  pour 200ml of boiling water on 5-6 tea leaves; steep for 4-5 minutes.  You may steep these leaves about 5 times.