Wild Purple Hongcha

When I tasted this loose leaf (not rolled) version of wild purple leaf in the Spring it knocked me off my feet. Leaving tea leaves open like this by using a simple hot air drying step maintains more of the fresh aromas of the leaf. Where the rolled version feels dense and rich this version feels softer, with a scent that presents as open and airy. It reaches a bit further into the top register. It's hard to describe, so you'll just have to try it yourself. I don't think there's a clear winner, it will mostly come down to personal preference, but it should be fun to compare. I personally find this loose version to be quite beautiful, though.

This is super unique tea. These tea bushes are 'wild' in two ways : One, they are a wild Taiwanese species of tea also known as Camellia formosensis. They are not Camellia sinensis. Two, they are 'feral' bushes -- the word commonly used in Taiwan is Yefang, which means they were planted by someone, but after that were left to their own devices, never getting any kind of modern agricultural treatment whether organic or conventional, not even fertilizer. This means they have to grow deep roots and take nutrients from deep in the earth, giving them a natural strength beyond what average tea bushes have.

These bushes also have a genetic mutation that makes them produce purple tips as you can see if you scroll through our product photos. The purple color comes from anthocyanins, the same pigments that give berries, grapes and other purple and blue fruit and vegetables their deep colors. In this case, the purple pigment gives the tea an incredibly unique floral taste that I've otherwise only ever tasted in Creme de Violette, a violet flower infused liqueur. So I guess it’s fair to say this tea tastes like violets! The spring version is sweet and juicy.

The broth however is deep, round and sweet with a big red oolong taste. Very full in the mouth, and goes for many infusions. Smooth like velvet. It has a strong Cha Qi I can feel gently circulating my blood, and feels warm and comforting in my belly.

Facts

• Harvest Location : Shan Lin Xi, Taiwan
• Harvest Date : Spring 2026
• Cultivar : Purple Bud Taiwan Wild Tea (Camellia formosensis)
• Farming Method : Feral (Yefang) - untended, no agrochemicals used