New Teas in the Leaves of Cha tea chest!!!

Darjeeling Yanki Special Black Tea

Small Farm  Tea from Darjeeling India 

Yanki Special 2nd Flush is a black tea from Darjeeling, harvested and crafted in small batches from small farms. It is one of the first Darjeeling teas of its kind in the market, as most Darjeelings are from large estates. The small-batch processing allows for a higher standard of quality and ethics for the growers and teamakers.
 
Yankhu Tamang founded the Society to "Promote Small Farmers, Socially and Economically”. The group is trying to change the narrative of Darjeeling tea production by empowering small growers to make their own tea, including both standard Darjeeling teas and handcrafted quality batches like this Yanki Special Darjeeling. This empowerment of the local Gorkhas, who have always supplied the manpower for the big tea estates, cannot fail to improve the quality of the famous Darjeeling tea and improve the livelihoods of the farmers and teaworkers.
 
Outside absentee ownership of those large estates has led to a decline in overall quality and a commoditization of most Darjeeling on the market, as well as being a factor in the unrest3 currently happening in the region.

Provenance:

  • Origin: Mirik Valley, Darjeeling, India
  • Grower/Teamaster: Darjeeling Small Growers Society/Yankhu Tamang
  • Elevation: 2,100m (7,000ft)
  • Harvest Date: Spring 2016, 2nd Flush
  • Cultivar: Camellia Sinensis Sinensis
  • Cultivation: Natural (Organic, but no certification)4  
  • Processing Notes:  harvested and crafted in small batches; hand-rolled
  • History/Pedigree: One of the first small-farm Darjeeling on the market, as most Darjeeling comes from large estates

 
Tasting Notes:

  • Smooth and even flavor with hints of sweetness that vary over different brewing parameters

Find it on the website here.

Floating Flower Jasmine

Blended Yunnan Green Tea 

This jasmine green tea was too beautiful and delicious to pass up even though the Leaves of Cha tea chest is primarily filled with straight teas. This delicate and aromatic blend is produced in the traditional way using just jasmine flowers steamed under the green tea and then also added to the finished tea.
 
Provenance:

  • Origin: Wu Jia Village, Yun Xian county, Lincang Prefecture, Yunnan (Jasmine flowers: Wen Shan area)
  • Grower/Teamaster: Mr. Yang
  • Elevation: 1650 meters
  • Harvest Date: April 10th 2017
  • Cultivar: Yun Kang Bi Luo Chun (cross of Bi Luo Chun and Assamica)
  • Cultivation: Natural, no pesticides  
  • Plucking Standard: Bud Pluck
  • Processing Notes:  Jasmine flowers are steamed underneath the finished tea leaves, then fresh jasmine Flowers are mixed in for additional fragrance  and beauty
  • Nickname: Jasmine Floating Flower
  • History/Pedigree: Yun Kang Bi Luo Chun varietal was first developed in 1992 by the Yunnan Tea Research Institute.  Cultivation was encouraged for more than a decade before it gained popularity as a finer green tea cultivar.

 Tasting Notes:

Incredible jasmine aroma that balances out in the cup to wonderful pair with the umami and vegetative notes of the green tea; all enhanced by the beauty of the jasmine flowers left in the tea leaves. Jasmine notes will be most prominent on first infusion.

Find it on the website here.