What is Wu Shi 午時 Cha?

Our newest small-batch green tea from Nantou, Taiwan is Zhèng Shān Wǔ Shí Chá 正杉午時茶, a tea that gets its name from the time of day that it was harvested. Wǔshí 午時 refers to the time between 11am-1pm and the peak of the day. At this time, the sun is generally at its highest and there is the most yang energy, meaning the most light, warmth, and activity. The tea harvested at wǔshí 午時 has absorbed the full sunshine, creating a light and gentle tea with a fresh and elegant aroma.

This year, Zheng Shan Wu Shi Cha was harvested by our Shan Lin Xi farmers on the day of Duan Wu (Dragon Boat) festival 端午節, a Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the lunar calendar. This year, Duan Wu/Dragon Boat Festival was June 10th, meaning this tea was not only harvested at the peak yang hour, but was also harvested around the peak yang time of year (as marked by the summer solstice typically on June 20 or 21).

 

 

Made from the Qing Xin oolong varietal at 1500 meters in Shan Lin Xi, 2024 Zheng Shan Wu Shi Cha is a sweet, mellow, and slightly creamy green tea with seaweed flavor and hints of zest and spice. The leaf is bright emerald green and the liquid emerges as a bright jade color. Upon tasting, we notice there is no tangy, sharpness or astringency that is typical of other green teas. We notice the subtle taste and aroma of cherry blossom leaves as well.