Yunnan big-leaf tea tree, due to the obvious growth advantage at the top, the branches of the naturally growing tea tree are uniaxial branches. From the perspective of the size of the leaves, the area of the finalized mature leaves is generally greater than 40cm. The spring buds of large-leaf tea trees germinate in early spring. Strong germination ability, medium germination density. The buds and leaves are fat, yellow-green in color, with many hairs and strong tenderness. The average weight of a hundred buds with one bud and two leaves is 153.2g. The full flowering period is in early October. The seed setting rate is low, the yield of buds and leaves is high, and the content is rich.
What is Yunnan big-leaf species?
Yunnan big-leaf tea tree is the general term for the large-leaf tea tree varieties with their own unique characteristics that grow and multiply under the special ecological environment conditions in Yunnan. According to the different branching parts, it can be divided into arbor, small arbor and other types. Tree-type plants are tall, with obvious branches and obvious trunks. The small tree type tea tree has taller plants and obvious trunk at the base. According to different branch positions, the crown of tea tree can be divided into erect shape and semi-open shape. Most of the arbor tea trees that grow naturally are semi-expanded. At present, the main big-leaf tea tree groups in Yunnan Province are Menghai big-leaf species, Mengku big-leaf species, and Fengqing big-leaf species.
From the perspective of tea tree evolution, Yunnan big-leaf tea trees are divided into wild-type big tea trees, transitional big tea trees and artificially cultivated big tea trees. Most of the new varieties Yunkang 10, Yunkang 12, Changye Baihao and Qingshui 3 planted in Yunnan are excellent varieties selected through vegetative propagation.
The characteristics of Yunnan big-leaf tea
First of all, from the perspective of foam resistance, the sponge tissue cells of the large-leaved species are relatively small. Large-leaf teas are more durable than small-leaf teas. Why can good Pu-erh tea be brewed more than ten times? In addition to the craftsmanship, the most important thing is its raw material, which uses Yunnan big-leaf species. Compared with those made of small leaf species such as green tea, etc., it has obvious advantages.
Secondly, the chemical composition is different. Large leaf species contain more effective substances such as tea polyphenols and caffeine, and the tea produced has a strong taste. Compared with the small leaf species, the ingredients are a little less, and the taste will be weaker. But the small-leaf species also has an advantage, that is, the aroma is more elevated. So different ingredients are also doomed to it, and what kind of process is used to process it. We can say without hesitation that Pu’er tea and black tea are the most suitable for large-leaf varieties in Yunnan.
Finally, the special geographical environment has created the large-leaf species in Yunnan, as well as Pu-erh tea. Pu-erh tea has a special craft Odui. The rich taste and aroma in the large leaves are the basis for the transformation of aroma in the post-fermentation process of Pu-erh tea. In addition, in terms of taste, the tea made from the big-leaf species is stronger than the tea made from the small-leaf species. Rich in layers, durable and foam-resistant. The aroma is longer than that of small-leaf tea, and the antioxidant effect is stronger than that of small- and medium-leaf tea. These are the advantages of Pu’er tea.
The Pu-erh tea made from Yunnan big-leaf species is the most suitable in terms of foam resistance, efficacy, and taste. This is why it can be the only raw material for Pu-erh tea. In addition, what is also to be praised here is that the Yunnan big-leaf species are located on different hills. It also makes the tea in each place unique, such as: the honey fragrance of Jingmai tea, the fungus fragrance of Xigui tea, the aggressiveness of Banzhang tea, the bitter bottom of Laoman’e…etc. These benefit from the geographical location, but also from the large-leaf species in Yunnan.
