Organic Wuyi Rock Oolong is some of the purest tea available on world markets. This rare oolong hails from Mount Wuyi in Nanping Prefecture, Fujian up along the border of Jiangxi Province. In 1999, UNESCO listed the mountain as a World Heritage Site in part owing to its outstanding biodiversity. According to the UN, Mount Wuyi Is one of the World’s finest, intact, subtropical forests. Further complimenting the region’s reputation, Mount Wuyi is registered with the Chinese Government as a biodiversity conservation zone.
The climate of the region is relatively humid due to the fact that the Mountain prevents cool air from entering the valley, and the presence of 9 riverbends meandering through its valleys. Living within this subtropical paradise is an almost uncountable number of species of flora and fauna. Many of the plant species living on the Mountain are considered relics of a bygone age, no longer found anywhere else on the planet. The wildlife is equally as spectacular. An estimated 5000 reptile, amphibian and insect species call the protected area home. Like the plant life, many of these creatures are found nowhere else on earth. To say the region is breathtakingly pristine is an understatement.
In amongst this jewel of biodiversity grows the world famous organic rock tea. The tea bushes, like many of the other plant species, are ancient, having grown amongst the mountain’s rocky outcroppings for generations. Cultivation of the plants is almost impossible given the topography so exceptional care is taken when handling and plucking the fresh tea shoots. Pluckers typically wear light cotton gloves when handling the leaves, which are harvested in small quantities, so as not to tire the bushes. The fresh leaf is then allowed to naturally semi-ferment. Semi fermentation allows the edges of the leaf to turn while the middle of the leaf stays green. (This is the reason for the slight color change from the edge of the leaf to the centre.) The resulting flavor is at once rich, delicate and laden with floral nuance. This exceptional tea may be brewed between 3-5 times. To truly enjoy the cup, pay close attention as the flavors and character shift and mature with each brewing. Savor and enjoy one of the world’s all natural wonders!
