WILD BLACK | YI NATION, SICHUAN

Tasting Experience:  this is a very approachable tea, interestingly reminiscent of Balhyocha Noeul (despite very different origins and handcrafting techniques).  Notes of white chocolate and raisins.

Type: Black
Origin: Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China
GPS: 28.1°N, 102.3°E

We found this tea thanks to our good friend, tea instructor and Chengdu native Li Wenting; through the past couple of years, she has been working with Yi nation people to process high mountain wild tea and create sustainable income for the community.  The following images are courtesy of Li Wenting.

These hills are blessed with a stunning diversity of wild tea plants.

This tea is crafted with a hodgepodge of tea cultivars which coexist in the forest.

Li, at the recently build fermentation facility.

About the Yi Nation: 

The Yi Nation is one of Southwest China's minority groups; their language is related to Burmese.  They are known as a proud, strong people of ancient traditions.  If you'd like to learn more about the nations of this region of the world, we highly recommend Peter Goullart's Forgotten Kingdom.  

Gongfu Brewing Suggestion:  6g / 100ml; boiling water.  Rinse.  Steep 1:  8”.  Subsequent steeps:  8” – 15”, depending on your taste.