PROFILE: MALT, CHOCOLATE, SWEET PLUM, FRESH STRAW

ORIGIN: VAN CHAN, YEN BAI, VIETNAM

HARVEST: AUGUST 2022

The new 2022 Wild Boar black tea has undergone a makeover adopting fresh techniques to process the finely plucked and hand sorted leaves which are harvested to a one bud and two leaf standard. Inheriting much of the traditional complex Wild Boar character it creates a sweeter, subtler brew with a lighter coppery liquor. Originating from Van Chan District in Yen Bai province, Wild Boar offers distinctive malt, chocolate, sweet plum and apple notes with bright, full body and a well-balanced finish. This tea is perfect as a reviving, thirst quenching drink either on its own or, if you prefer, add a little lemon or milk.

Wild Boar is produced in a small family tun factory that specialises in the processing of leaves from the tea trees that grow wild in the mountains and forests nearby. Leaves are collected from ethnic minority communities who live in the mountainous areas around Van Chan and the neighbouring district of Tram Tau. Processed by orthodox techniques the tea is presented as whole, unbroken leaves - equivalent to a tippy Orange Pekoe.

The Van Chan factory collects harvested leaves from several mountain communities in Van Chan and the neighbouring Tram Tau districts including Suoi Quyen, Suoi Bu, Suoi Giang and Phinh Ho. In addition to being a notable centre for wild tea, the area is also well known for sticky rice, spices and hot mineral springs.