Definition of Ancient Tea Tree:
Ancient tea tree refers to trees that have been alive for over a hundred years, found in Yunnan's Ban Nong tea area, Lincang tea area, Pu'er tea area, and Phongsali Province in northern Laos. These ancient tea tree communities are rare and scarce in number. Some tea enthusiasts consider a tree to be truly ancient if it's over 300 years old, earning it the title of "ancient tree."
Characteristics of Ancient Tea Tree:
1. Ancient tea tree roots go deep, and they don't need artificial watering or fertilization. They rely on their own roots to absorb all the necessary water and nutrients. As a result, the tea leaves contain relatively high mineral content, making ancient tea tree leaves eco-friendly.
2. Ancient tea trees have adapted to their local ecological environment and developed resistance against various pests and diseases. They require no pesticides, making them more natural and free from pollution.
3. The deep root system of ancient tea trees allows them to absorb nutrients from deep soil layers, which enriches the tea leaves with abundant substances. This makes ancient tea tree tea more enduring, aromatic, mellow, and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. Since they don't need fertilizers, they are more naturally produced.
4. Ancient tea tree tea is only found in the Yunnan's ancient six big tea mountains and new six big tea mountains areas, which results in very limited production and makes the picking process more challenging. As a result, the price of ancient tea tree tea is higher compared to teas grown on flatlands.
Classification of Ancient Tea Tree Tea:
1. True Ancient Tea Tree: Strictly speaking, true ancient tea trees are large-leaf tea trees over 300 years old, often growing in remote, deep mountain forests.
2. Mature Trees: The "mature tree" type is also referred to as "ancient tea tree" because their age falls between 100 to 300 years, and they are relatively scarce.
Tasting Characteristics of Ancient Tea Tree Tea:
Appearance:
Ancient tea tree tea can grow up to 10 meters tall, with leaves relatively larger than those of teas grown on flatlands. The leaves have a leathery texture, clear veins, irregularly shaped teeth along the edges, and fewer hairs on the back.
Flatland tea trees grow to about 1 meter tall due to cultivation, with thinner leaves, wavy edges, regular-shaped teeth, and more hairs on the back.
Taste:
Ancient tea tree tea offers a rich taste experience, often described as having strong bitterness but weak astringency. The bitter and astringent tastes of ancient tea tree tea transform quickly, leaving a delightful aftertaste. It may also carry floral notes.
Flatland tea, on the other hand, can taste less robust and sometimes have mixed flavors. The taste might feel imposing at first, with bitterness and astringency heavier than in ancient tea tree tea, but they don't linger to transform into a pleasant aftertaste.
Leaf Appearance:
After brewing, the leaves of ancient tea tree tea unfurl well, appearing plump, elastic, and resilient. The tea's veins are clearly visible, usually with about 15 pairs of veins.
In comparison, the leaves of flatland tea are less likely to unfurl completely, with thinner and more brittle textures. The veins may be less visible.
Flavor and Aftertaste:
Ancient tea tree tea has a full-bodied and mellow taste, and the bitterness transforms into a sweet sensation, leaving a lingering aftertaste in the mouth and throat. The energy and tea essence are slowly released, providing a comfortable tea-drinking experience.
Flatland tea, in contrast, has a shorter-lasting aftertaste in the mouth, with less noticeable moistening of the mouth. The flavor and essence of aged tea are relatively less and released quickly, resulting in a less satisfying tea-drinking experience.
In conclusion, it's essential not to be misled by the "tree age". A tree's age doesn't guarantee the tea's quality. The quality of tea depends on various factors, and we should focus on understanding the true taste and essence of the tea.