Loose Leaf Green Tea
C. taliensis is called ‘ye cha’ (wild tea) or ‘ben shan cha’ (local mountain tea) by the local people.
Most green tea derives from the Camellia Senensis plant. The loose leaf green tea that Lubba Tea offers, derives from the Camellia Taliensis variety. [pics] It is considered the wild relative to the Camellia Senensis plant. This rarer tea variety has a longer, thinner leaf structure and a has a flavor profile that is said to have a fruitier taste and possesses a more floral aroma.
The Taliensis varietal is considered somewhat endangered due to encroachment of their natural habitat and of the popularity of cultivating the Senensis varietal. Needless to say, there is a limited supply of this type of green tea called Taliensis. We are working with our supplier(s) to cultivate this species to prevent extinction. To date, over 60,000 Camellia Taliensis plants have been propagated and when mature, will produce the delicious green tea we mention here. We cant wait!
The elevation of the Camellia Taliensis tea trees are approximately 1500 ft / 450 m on a Mountain in central Thailand and are uniquely positioned in the foot hills of taller mountains. When it rains, sediment flows down the mountain, bringing fertilizing nutrients and flavoring hints from the native plants higher up. Question: Is it the unique tea leaves of this wild relative or the nutrients from above that create the great taste of our tea? Perhaps it’s a little of both.
At harvest time, the tender leaves of our loose leaf tea are hand-picked then hurried back to an Organically Certified “Factory” which is located on the very plantation that the tea is grown. Here, they will be lightly steamed to lock in the freshness and to maintain the green color. The leaves are then rolled a bit to bring juices to surface, then dried for packaging.
Many of our tea plants are actually very old Tea Trees. Most are over 100 years old. An older tea plant/tree is said to produce a better tea and is considered a statelier & majestic experience. In some countries, the tea from the older trees are exclusively reserved for Royalty and Dignitaries just like centuries past.
A note on the “factory”: The tea workers here don white lab coats, face masks, gloves and booties to do their work. All of the walls are white, the floors are white and every machine and tool in this factory is cleaned only with Coconut oil as required for this certification. Everything is so clean; it appears you could eat off of the floor.
Some people find it hard to believe that they now actually like the flavor of green tea, as most people have the opinion that green tea should be clinical and unenjoyable. We like to show them differently. Most people say, “it’s the best green tea they have ever had”. Some of our customers, who don’t normally like tea, say things like, “I love this stuff” and “Can this actually be good for you too?” So, we’ve had a few converts to say the least.