Lu Yu Tea (Dew Tea )
1. About Us
Tea Garden Introduction:
Our tea garden was established in 1990 and is located on the eastern foothills of Taiwan's Coastal Mountain Range, the mountains closest to the Pacific Ocean in Asia, adjacent to the Huadong Valley. The estate is situated at an elevation of 1,000 meters and covers an area of 3 hectares. We primarily cultivate small-leaf tea trees, specializing in the production of lightly fermented high mountain oolong tea and fully fermented black tea. Our core philosophy emphasizes environmental sustainability and organic cultivation, dedicated to producing high-quality single-origin tea.
Brand Story: "Lu Yu Estate " (Dew-Nurtured Estate) is the name of our estate, and "Lu Yu Tea "(Dew Tea) is our brand. The tea trees in our estate are nourished every night by the dew formed from the moisture rising from the Pacific Ocean. This natural nutrition from the dew is the inspiration behind our brand name, "Dew Tea".
2. Our Teas/Products
Our most famous teas include Floral Oolong Tea and Black Tea.
Floral Oolong Tea: This is a type of green oolong tea with deep green, ball-shaped leaves. The tea liquor is golden with a subtle white floral fragrance, offering rich layers and a smooth, full-bodied taste. It received a two-star award at the 2024 Great Taste Awards in the UK and won a gold medal at the 2023 World Green Tea Competition in Japan.
Black Tea: This is a black tea with slightly curled leaves resembling small shrimp, with white (silver) tips. The leaves are glossy black, and the tea liquor is wine-red. The natural honey aroma is a result of the small green leafhoppers feeding on the leaves. Through the careful processing by our tea masters, which includes rolling, fermentation, and roasting, the tea releases tropical fruit aromas and prominent floral notes when cooled. It has a delicate texture, sweetness, a long-lasting finish, and rich layers. It received a three-star rating at the 2023 and 2024 UK Great Taste Awards.
This black tea participated in the UK's only dedicated tea competition in 2024, "The Leafies," organized by the UK Tea Academy (UKTA). It won the highest "Gold Award" as well as the honor of "Best Of Black Teas" in the international red tea category.
In 2024, this tea also received a Gold Award at the 7th "World Tea Competition," hosted by AVPA (Agence pour la Valorisation des Produits Agricoles) in France.
Comment:
2023 Great Taste Awards
We feel the description is accurate,reflecting delivery (we are sampling two separate brews, and the longer brew is certainly fuller and more interesting). The rich, sweet honeyed notes are indeed impressive sampled at 40 degrees - and we are now catching some of the mango and mango stone notes evident on the wet leaf. An outstanding example.
2024 Great Taste Awards
A wonderfully layered, honey noted tea with florality emerging nicely at 40°C. A light amber liquor, delicate and sweet yet with ample complexity. Great length on the palate. A wonderful example.
The Leafies 2024 International tea award
Comments: The judges loved this tea and said it was exactly what they were looking for in this category. The dry leaves were very attractive and the wet leaves were incredibly fragrant, with a rich and complex blend of aromas. The judges said the liquor was very attractive too, with a bright and clear colour, and it smelled fantastic, just as aromatic as the wet leaves. They felt those rich flavours came through in the taste of the liquor, which was perfectly balanced and had a very pleasant mouthfeel. One judge thought that it tasted like a mix between a darjeeling and an oolong ("a Darjoolong!") which made it an interesting and unique tea.
"Teas of the World" International Contest AVPA-Paris 2024
Very rich and indulgent, with soft tannins that offer a smooth texture, complemented by honeyed and woody notes that add depth and complexity.
LU YU Golden Dew
produce scents similar to ripe fruits or dried fruits, with a more intense and deep fragrance.
Floral Aroma: Certain tea leaves may be accompanied by a faint floral fragrance, particularly scents akin to white flowers, osmanthus, or orchids, providing an elegant layer of complexity.
Mature Honey Aroma: This aroma can possess the sweet and smooth quality of honey, but compared to regular honey scent, it is richer and fuller, sometimes even with a hint of caramelized sweetness.
Caramel Aroma: During the roasting process, the tea leaves release a sweet scent akin to caramel. When this aroma appears alongside the honey aroma, it creates a more complex flavor profile.
Woody Aroma: In addition to the sweet notes, the tea leaves also emit a subtle woody aroma after roasting, especially at higher tea liquor temperatures, blending with the honey scent to create a warm and comforting sensation.
Apple or White Grape Aroma: These scents fall under the fruity aroma category, as sometimes tea leaves, after being bitten by small green leafhoppers, develop a fresh and crisp fruit aroma.
Taste: Some say that "if it's not bitter or astringent, it's not tea," a description that reflects older perspectives. However, due to improvements in modern tea-making techniques, many teas now have a sweet profile, with a pleasant sweetness and lingering aftertaste. While some mild astringency is beneficial, completely astringent-free teas may be easy to drink but lack richness.
These descriptors can enrich the portrayal of the aroma layers in tea leaves affected by small green leafhoppers, particularly emphasizing their unique and enchanting aromatic transformations.
Who are Small Green Leafhoppers (Empoasca onukii)?
In Taiwan, they are referred to as "floating dust," a name related to their appearance and behavioral characteristics.
Lightweight and Small Appearance: Small green leafhoppers are very tiny, measuring only about 2-3 millimeters, with a pale green body that resembles dust or tiny insects. Therefore, when they move in the tea garden, they appear like dust particles floating in the air.
Jumping and Flying Behavior: The name "floating dust" also relates to their light and agile movements. When disturbed, small green leafhoppers quickly jump or fly away, appearing like dust particles drifting in the air. Thus, the name "floating dust" aptly describes the small size and behavior of the small green leafhoppers.
3. Tea Cultivation and Processing
Estate Address :
No. 284, Guanyin, Yuli Township, Hualien County 981008 , Taiwan (R.O.C.) 999079
Mailing Address :
No. 32, Chengdong 7th St., Yuli Township,Hualien County 981004,Taiwan (R.O.C.) 999079
FaceBook : www.facebook.com/lilyfarm284