Valley of Yan | Shennongjia Wild Black Tea

Authentic Whole Leaf

100% Hand-Picked

Harvested once per year

The Wild Black Difference

Most black tea comes from cultivated plantations — orderly rows of pruned bushes, bred for uniformity.

Our black tea comes from fully wild trees— ancient, uncultivated, growing naturally in the Shennongjia forest for centuries.

These trees have never known fertiliser, never been pruned, never been tamed. They fight for light, sink roots deep into rocky soil, and produce leaves of extraordinary concentration.

This wild craftsmanship imparts unique flavour nuances absent in commercially produced black teas — a depth of character that can only be achieved in this pristine environment.

This is not your everyday black tea. This is the forest, fermented.

Let the Tea Guide You

In our factory, wild leaves undergo full oxidation— a carefully managed process that deepens flavours and colours the leaves to a rich, dark hue.

Oxidation time varies: 5–6 hours, sometimes more, sometimes less. There is no fixed formula.

This is because every batch is unique — different moisture content, different character, different needs. Our tea masters follow the ancient principle of kàn chá zuò chá :

"Look at the tea, then make the tea."

They watch. They feel. They smell. They adjust.

The tea itself decides. This is not mass production. This is a dialogue between maker and leaf.

Fully oxidised, fully developed, fully wild.

Why Black Tea Comes Loose

Preserving the aroma, respecting the leaf

Unlike white tea, black tea is never pressed into cakes. The steaming required for pressing would cause its precious aromatics to dissipate — essentially "wetting" the tea and fundamentally altering its character.

Our wild black tea is kept loose, allowing the leaves to retain their full aromatic complexity.
This is the traditional way, and for good reason.

Black tea is, by nature, loose tea

Loose Leaf

For the connoisseur
Full leaves, maximum complexity
Ideal for gaiwan or teapot
50g per pack

Single-Brew Sachet

For the perfect session
Pre-portioned, travel-friendly
Perfect for gongfu on the go
5g per sachet

Tea Bag

For everyday convenience
Quick and easy
3-5g per tea bag

Method

Gongfu (Gaiwan 100ml)
Western (Teapot 500ml)
Western (Mug 300ml)
Cold Brew
Boiled

Water

90-95°C
90-95°C
90-95°C
Cold
100°C

Time

8-10 secs
5 mins
3–5 mins
8–12 hrs
3–5 mins

Best For

Exploring layers • 10–15 infusions
Full-bodied • Rich aroma
Daily convenience
Smooth • Sweet • Zero bitterness
Deep extraction • Winter warmth

A Tea That Keeps Giving

One portion, one session, countless cups

Because our black tea is whole leaf, not broken, it rewards patience. Whether you take 5g from a loose bag, open a sachet, or steep a tea bag, you're getting the same leaf — and that leaf has more to give.

10 to 15 infusions is not a boast. It's simply what happens when you steep wild whole-leaf tea in a gaiwan, taking short infusions and watching the flavour unfold layer by layer.

Each session becomes a journey:

First infusions: Bold, malty, intensely aromatic

Middle infusions: Sweet, mellow, deeply smooth

Later infusions: Gentle, honeyed, lingering warmth

This is not just tea.
This is a slow unfolding of the forest's story.