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We pulled into the temple we had seen in the photographs & Yuliping led us to a covered area where she unpacked all of the teas we were to try in this beautiful setting. This is the way to truly experience tea - in the environment in which it is grown and nurtured - prepared by the people who tenderly produce it.
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Jenny gathered water from the spring ready for the tea as we talked more about the tea and its story. Yuliping & her husband - who is a 3rd generation tea farmer in the scenic area - farm 80mu of tea garden planted in two mountains valley making mostly Roi Gui and Lancong Shui Xian.
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Yuliping prepared us Tie Luo Han - we are in Wuyi to look for organic tea and this tea is grown on 3 acres of 40 year old tea frees high on the cliffs (Bi Shu Yan) - isolated from other areas and left to grow naturally. The area around the temple was the perfect environment in which to enjoy & appreciate this complex tea - calm & quiet with just the temple sounds and a few temple dogs gently moving around - the corn a perfect accompaniment to the deep roasted tones of the tea.
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We sat in silence watching each step of the tea preparation. Yulipings calm energy infusing into the leaves and the liquor which tasted so divine
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The clouds came and went - the mist started to clear and we were treated to the most beautiful views of this incredible area which produces such exquisite tea.
A few days after we left the tea harvest began - the pictures below [all Yuliping's photos] show the beautiful environment in which these teas grow and the family hard at work during the harvest. The first portion of the tea will be available at the end of July so stay tuned for some exciting Autumn offerings.....
