Nestled between the lush, rain-soaked Hwagae Valley, the purewater the Semonjin River, and eco-diverse terrain of Mt. Chiri, the family farm of the Chos is a tea plantation paradise. The scenery allows for an all-organic production, but its third-generation heritage is what makes this yasaeng-cha (“wild tea,” grown with minimal fertilizing) heirloom especially notable. Grown from hand-planted seedlings, this Hadong variety is an untamed plant in the soil; however, in techniques handed down from his mother and grandmother, Mr. Cho tames it beautifully into a memorably gorgeous black tea evocative of dark fruits and roasted nuts. Notes of chocolate-covered candied peanuts, brown ale, and toasted sesame.
Region: Hadong-gun, South Korea
Variety: Hadong (Heirloom Variety)
Elevation: 800 meters above sea level
Harvest Date: May 2020
Producer: Cho Family
Brewing Recommendation: 4g tea | 170 mL water | 205°F | 1:25
