Wild tea can be confusing because multiple factors can cause a tea to be called wild. There isn't a single definition. Today, any tea tree that does not receive human interference (for example, pruning and maintenance) can be labeled wild. But if we look deeper, there are a few ways tea can be "wild" that create vast differences.
Wild Varieties
These wild teas are the ancestors of the cultivated tea we know today. They are the truest definition of wild, and they do not represent the cultivar-forward style of tea we understand and appreciate today. These plants are primitive types of tea, and they are not necessarily edible. Wild varieties grow massive, sometimes over 50 feet tall! It is often illegal to harvest these trees today, although some people still do so. Tea Drunk does not sell or recommend consuming this kind of wild tea.
Planted by Nature
These wild teas sprout from seeds dropped by birds or buried by squirrels; they are seeded and grow naturally, like other trees in the forest. While naturally grown and not planted by humans, they are still from seeds of cultivated versions of tea trees. We typically see these trees not far from those maintained by humans. But a significant difference is that there's no set formation, and the trees are pretty scattered and have to compete for space and other resources with other trees in a forest. It's difficult to harvest from these wild tea trees, as one has to search for the trees before any plucking can happen. Needless to say, navigating their rugged surroundings and likely unruly height and canopy is difficult.
Abandoned Tea
People have cultivated tea for a long time, and many times throughout history, entire villages have relocated, died out, and their tea fields have become abandoned. When tea commerce saw a decline, farmers left tea trees to attend to other livelihoods. Today, many of these areas that once grew tea but abandoned the practice are now being revitalized.
There are tea fields that have sat dormant without human intervention for tens to hundreds of years. They are domesticated tea trees gone feral. These abandoned tea trees vary greatly in age. For example, in Yun Nan, people left trees after the decline of the mass tea trade from the Ming and Qing Dynasties that are now 200–600 years old. In Huang Shan, only a few of the most senior villagers recall that there used to be a village nearby; its residents moved out decades ago and abandoned their tea trees altogether. In places like Fu Ding, where traditional white teas are produced, the current generation went to cities to look for jobs and left their tea fields unattended for 20–40 years. But many have now moved back to the areas because of the recent popularity of white tea. These wild teas have owners; they just haven't been actively maintained by humans for a long time. There's been time for nature to take control back. Even within a few years, weeds and grasses grow tall among tea trees. In decades, other larger plants start to compete and claim space.
The critical distinction here is that someone once planted this style of wild tea—they weren't wild to start but have since become so.
How Does Wild Tea Taste Different from Cultivated Tea?
Because wild teas have to struggle and compete with other plants for resources, they usually appear skinnier but are packed with flavor! One might indeed say they taste wild. They are often sweeter, brighter, and richer in flavor. The most common distinction people tend to notice in wild teas is that the taste is more intense and exuberant, with a very long aftertaste. These taste profiles make these teas wildly popular (no pun intended).
Shop Some of Tea Drunk's Wild Teas
- Shop Wild Bai Hao Yin Zhen White Tea
- Shop Wild Bai Mu Dan White Tea
- Shop Chan Cha (Red Tea from abandoned trees)
- Shop Wild You Le Long Pa Pu Er Sheng Cha
1 comment
I’ve been drinking wild tea for several years now, but this article really helped me understand the nuance of what I was drinking and the original of the unique flavor profile I’ve come to love. Thanks Tea Drunk!