Purple Bud Organic Red Tea

Purple Bud Organic Red Tea

This tea represents a particular case within the Taiwanese production of black teas. In fact, on the island, to obtain this type of tea, reference is often made to the #TTSE18 cultivar (or even ruby 18) and the area where it is grown is located near the Sun Moon lake area. This tea, rather than coming from the lake in the heart of the island, is harvested in different parts of the island because its cultivar of origin is an indigenous variety of camellia that grows high in the mountains and produces leaves with purplish hues. This plant variety is often protected and cultivated by local ethnic groups who carefully preserve its integrity by performing only a few harvests per year, all of which are strictly handmade.

Obviously, the particular shades of color of these tea leaves not only change the aesthetics of the product but also affect its taste, enriching both the aroma and the taste of the drink with notes of red berries, with sweet, sour, and fruity hints in the mouth that create a good balance of flavors.

Tasting – Sight and smell

Purple Bud Organic red tea leaves are whole, long and tapered, rolled in shape and brownish-gray in color with mahogany highlights. Once infused, sweet aromas of caramel and fruit (plum, red fruits), hints of wood and mildly spicy notes spread, with a balsamic and vaguely mentholated finish. In the cup the liquor is a magnificent amber orange, transparent and very bright; the nose is fruity and sweet, reminiscent of sugar syrup.

Tasting Notes

GONG FU CHA

The notes of the first infusion of Purple Bud organic red tea are super sweet and fruity, with hints of plums in syrup, raspberry jam and brown sugar. A light floral note also appears, reminiscent of rose and orange blossom. With the second infusion, the taste intensifies: sweet notes of caramel, hints of fragrant wood, and spicy hints of cinnamon and cardamom. The fruity notes are now reminiscent of baked apples and plums. With the third infusion, a balsamic note of eucalyptus emerges, bringing a fresh feel to the palate. The woody notes also become a bit more intense, then giving way to a sweet finish with hints of red fruits and caramel apple.

WESTERN

The attack is distinctly sugary: the flavor is reminiscent of raw brown sugar and caramel, remaining on the palate as syrup. Fruity notes are then immediately noticeable: red fruit compote, baked plum, and baked apple. Spicy hints of cinnamon also appear and finally a balsamic and fresh, almost menthol-like sensation. Notes of scented wood and cocoa close, while the persistence proves long and fruity, with the sweetness of caramel lingering long on the tongue and bottom of the throat. The body of Purple Bud organic red tea is of medium density, definitely round and very smooth on the palate, with no astringency or bitterness.

Place of origin

Taiwan

Production

After harvesting, the Purple Bud red tea leaves are allowed to wither in the sun for some time depending on the producer before moving on to the folding stage. The leaves are then folded and rolled so that the juices inside are stirred and the oxidation process can begin. Once the leaf reaches its typical brown colour, the residual moisture inside is removed and after a few days’ rest the tea is ready to be consumed.

How to prepare

We strongly recommend infusing Purple Bud red tea by the traditional Chinese method (gong fu cha) to best enjoy these leaves. Following this preparation you can use 6 grams of leaves (about 4 teaspoons) in a gaiwan of about 100 ml to obtain more infusions with different flavors. After a quick rinsing of the leaves in water at 90°C, you can proceed with a first infusion of 10 seconds and, after which, keeping the water at the same temperature, you can proceed, increasing the time by 5 seconds each time compared to the previous infusion (10 – 15 – 20 …).

This tea has a longevity of about 7 infusions.

For a classic Western-style preparation, we recommend 2.5 grams of leaves (about 2 teaspoons) in a 150 ml cup with water at 90°C for an infusion time of one and a half minutes.

The tea can be filtered for greater ease at the moment of tasting, and also the infusion times indicated above are intended to be purely indicative, so you can also adjust according to your personal taste.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.