Zijuan Hong

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Berries, Drying, Earth, Elderberry, Eucalyptus, Forest Floor, Hay, Honey, Jam, Malt, Mineral, Mushrooms, Raspberry, Strawberry, Wood, Clean
Sold in
Loose Leaf
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by derk
Average preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 g 4 oz / 120 ml

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4 Tasting Notes View all

  • “I ordered a bunch of teas from Daxue Jiadao back in early 2022, and this is the first one I opened. I’ve been keeping it for special occasions, but sadly, I’m near the bottom of the bag and it’s...” Read full tasting note
    95
  • “As stated in a previous note, this a meditative tea. I’m back from China. Rather than give a complete synopsis in one go, blurbs will find their way into future notes should a tea elicit the...” Read full tasting note
    95

From Daxue Jiadao

攸樂紫娟紅 2021年

From a small grove of young purple leaf cultivar (Zijuan) trees established on a high elevation hillside of Youle, cultivated using natural farming methods (自然农法).

Suggestion: 6-8g / 120 ml, 95-100C.

About Daxue Jiadao View company

Company description not available.

4 Tasting Notes

95
414 tasting notes

I ordered a bunch of teas from Daxue Jiadao back in early 2022, and this is the first one I opened. I’ve been keeping it for special occasions, but sadly, I’m near the bottom of the bag and it’s now sold out. I steeped 6 g of leaf in a 120 ml teapot at 195F for 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, and 240 seconds, plus some long, uncounted steeps.

The dry aroma is of jammy raspberries and elderberries, forest floor, and mushrooms. The first steep has notes of strawberry, raspberry, elderberry, forest floor, hay, and mushrooms. Honey, wood, and even headier berries appear in steep two, and the woodiness of the tea makes it feel drying without any astringency. I get hints of eucalyptus and earth in the next couple steeps as the berries recede somewhat, though they’re still very apparent in the aftertaste. A little malt emerges in the next two steeps, and the woodsy notes become stronger. Subsequent rounds achieve a nice balance of soft berries with wood, malt, minerals, honey, and earth. The tea gradually diminishes in flavour over the final long steeps, but is still tasty until the end of the session. I often steep it overnight to get that last bit of jammy goodness.

This is the best purple tea I’ve had so far and is also among the best teas from Yunnan. It has all of the berry and forest notes I associate with purple teas and very little of the funkiness. As Derk mentioned, this is a meditative tea that rewards careful attention.

Flavors: Berries, Drying, Earth, Elderberry, Eucalyptus, Forest Floor, Hay, Honey, Jam, Malt, Mineral, Mushrooms, Raspberry, Strawberry, Wood

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 g 4 OZ / 120 ML
derk

Yes, this is a wonderful tea. Thank you for the introduction.

Leafhopper

I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’ll miss it when it’s gone.

beerandbeancurd

Zijuan is the varietal of the maocha that sent me on a space trip. I’ll have to start poking around for some hongs made with it. This sounds beautiful.

Leafhopper

It didn’t send me to outer space, but it was indeed a beautiful tea! I think it’s also spelled Zi Juan if you want to stick to that cultivar. TheTea may still have a nice purple hongcha, though I’m not sure what the cultivar is. This one from Daxue Jiadao is the most refined purple black tea I’ve had.

beerandbeancurd

Thanks for the rec. Always more to explore…

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95
1541 tasting notes

As stated in a previous note, this a meditative tea.

I’m back from China. Rather than give a complete synopsis in one go, blurbs will find their way into future notes should a tea elicit the desire to write of my experiences. Here I will start with the end of my trip, as with all endings come beginnings.

On the first leg home, the China Southern flight attendant placed some floppy “old man brown” slippers on my first-class feet in Wuhan. As my ankles swelled by the hour, I figured why put my shoes back on. Those ugly, oversized slippers whisked with me through perfumed boutique shops in the Hong Kong airport, swept the (clean) floors of Taipei Taoyuan, shuffled me through U.S. customs in San Francisco and tripped me up as I boarded the bus that brought me back home. Sunday night around midnight I finally made it through the front door in a state of time-travel delirium and searched for my old girl Sophia.

I found Sophia after settling down for a bit, only to lose her less than 24 hours later. Monday was the end of our 22-year companionship. She waited for me to come home from my journey and passed in the comfort of my arms in her favorite chair and blanket. Now she rests under the lemon tree with the other kids, to feed the fruits that bring us happiness. I will be able to see her live on through my bedroom’s back door while I sit with tea. And these stupid China Southern slippers will be worn until they fall apart – little reminders of over half my life, arguably the most formative of my years, spent with a little warm body that made biscuits on my chest, sea foam eyes that softly spoke “You are mine and I am yours” and a vocabulary that always let me know what was on her mind. My little nugget, my little shoulder cat. So many feelings.

So yes, with all endings come beginnings. The end of Sophia’s life – full of patience, tenacity, wisdom and love – will be mirrored in my slippered steps as I stumble forward into this dream of farming tea.

Love you, baby.

StrangeButTrue

I’m so sorry for your loss. Cats stay with you in the heart.

derk

No sorry – no loss. I gained the world from her. But thank you :)

ashmanra

Oh, my heart! I wish I were near! Love to you.

Mastress Alita

My condolences, Derk. Here’s to twenty-two amazing years!

Shae

Oh goodness, my heart hurts for you. What a beautiful remembrance. Sending love and hugs.

Martin Bednář

Sending you a hug!

gmathis

So glad you made it home to be with your baby. I’m praying for you today. Rest and heal, friend.

Maddy Barone

We need a “hug” icon. I’m so sorry for your loss.

derk

Thank you all for the kind words.

Rosehips

Much rest and peace to you. I’m so sorry for your loss.

Leafhopper

My condolences for your loss. I’m glad you were able to be with her at the end.

tea-sipper

Oh Sophia! She waited for you!

beerandbeancurd

Sophia. Sleep sweetly, little one.

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