RARE Purple Rhododendron (Zi Juan) Raw Sheng Pu-erh Tea
Worldwide shipping for just $9.5 on every order. Shipping Policy
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Need help? Contact us
Worldwide shipping for just $9.5 on every order. Shipping Policy
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Need help? Contact us
-
Born from a 1985 scientific discovery and crafted by its original cultivators, this anthocyanin-rich Purple Zi Juan Sheng Pu-erh delivers a mesmerizing violet infusion with exceptional aging potential—a living rarity for the discerning collector.
What Makes It Unique
Experience the only Purple Rhododendron Pu-erh produced by the very institution that discovered this remarkable tea tree variety—a scientifically validated, antioxidant-powerhouse with a hauntingly beautiful violet brew and extraordinary aging potential that transforms with every passing year.
- Origin Authenticity Guaranteed: Produced exclusively by Yunnan Tea Research Institute—the 1985 discoverers of the Zi Juan variety.
- Anthocyanin Powerhouse: Naturally occurring purple pigments deliver superior antioxidant benefits and striking violet liquor.
- Rare Genetic Mutation: One of the few teas where buds, leaves, and stems are entirely purple—irreplicable by ordinary cultivation.
- Dual Aging Trajectory: Dry-stored in Kunming and Xi'an, evolving complexity deepens annually for decades.
- Scientific Pedigree Meets Craft: Laboratory-validated cultivar processed with traditional Sheng Pu-erh methods (Shā Qīng 杀青, Róu Niǎn 揉捻).
The Story Behind This Tea
In 1985, scientists at the Yunnan Tea Research Institute made an extraordinary discovery in the tea gardens of Kunming: a single tea tree with buds, leaves, and stems bathed entirely in deep purple. They named it "Purple Rhododendron" (Zi Juan 紫鹃), recognizing immediately that this genetic anomaly represented something precious—a natural mutation of the Yunnan large-leaf varietal with anthocyanin levels far exceeding any known tea plant. This was not merely a curiosity; it was a breakthrough that would take decades to cultivate and understand.
What makes our Purple Rhododendron Pu-erh irreplaceable is its direct lineage. We source exclusively from the Yunnan Tea Research Institute—the very hands that first nurtured this variety from sapling to harvest. Every cake carries not just leaves, but forty years of institutional knowledge, careful propagation, and unwavering quality control. The "one bud, two-to-three leaves" (Yī Yá Liǎng Sān Yè 一芽两三叶) standard ensures optimal tenderness and anthocyanin concentration, producing a brew that glows with an almost mystical purple-red luminosity.
Stored meticulously in the dry climates of Kunming and Xi'an, this Sheng Pu-erh is designed for transformation. Today, you taste pine nuts and wild florals dancing above a pleasantly bitter-sweet foundation. In five years, expect deeper woodiness and honeyed undertones. In fifteen, the complexity becomes orchestral. This is not simply tea—it is a living artifact, a bridge between scientific discovery and ancient craft, waiting to unfold its secrets in your cup and your collection.
Ready to Start Your Sheng Pu-erh Journey?
- Institutional Provenance: Directly sourced from Yunnan Tea Research Institute with full traceability to the original 1985 Zi Juan cultivar.
- Clean Dry Storage: Maintained in controlled, odor-free environments in Kunming and Xi'an—no musty notes, no contamination, pure evolutionary potential.
- Limited Annual Production: The rarity of true Purple Rhododendron material means each pressing is inherently finite—once sold, availability is uncertain.
This is your opportunity to own a piece of tea history—a scientifically significant, visually stunning, health-enhancing Sheng Pu-erh with decades of transformation ahead. Whether you drink it now for its vibrant pine-floral character or cellar it for future complexity, the Purple Rhododendron rewards patience and intention alike. Secure your cakes today before this limited production disappears.
Born from a 1985 scientific discovery and crafted by its original cultivators, this anthocyanin-rich Purple Zi Juan Sheng Pu-erh delivers a mesmerizing violet infusion with exceptional aging potential—a living rarity for the discerning collector.
What Makes It Unique
Experience the only Purple Rhododendron Pu-erh produced by the very institution that discovered this remarkable tea tree variety—a scientifically validated, antioxidant-powerhouse with a hauntingly beautiful violet brew and extraordinary aging potential that transforms with every passing year.
- Origin Authenticity Guaranteed: Produced exclusively by Yunnan Tea Research Institute—the 1985 discoverers of the Zi Juan variety.
- Anthocyanin Powerhouse: Naturally occurring purple pigments deliver superior antioxidant benefits and striking violet liquor.
- Rare Genetic Mutation: One of the few teas where buds, leaves, and stems are entirely purple—irreplicable by ordinary cultivation.
- Dual Aging Trajectory: Dry-stored in Kunming and Xi'an, evolving complexity deepens annually for decades.
- Scientific Pedigree Meets Craft: Laboratory-validated cultivar processed with traditional Sheng Pu-erh methods (Shā Qīng 杀青, Róu Niǎn 揉捻).
The Story Behind This Tea
In 1985, scientists at the Yunnan Tea Research Institute made an extraordinary discovery in the tea gardens of Kunming: a single tea tree with buds, leaves, and stems bathed entirely in deep purple. They named it "Purple Rhododendron" (Zi Juan 紫鹃), recognizing immediately that this genetic anomaly represented something precious—a natural mutation of the Yunnan large-leaf varietal with anthocyanin levels far exceeding any known tea plant. This was not merely a curiosity; it was a breakthrough that would take decades to cultivate and understand.
What makes our Purple Rhododendron Pu-erh irreplaceable is its direct lineage. We source exclusively from the Yunnan Tea Research Institute—the very hands that first nurtured this variety from sapling to harvest. Every cake carries not just leaves, but forty years of institutional knowledge, careful propagation, and unwavering quality control. The "one bud, two-to-three leaves" (Yī Yá Liǎng Sān Yè 一芽两三叶) standard ensures optimal tenderness and anthocyanin concentration, producing a brew that glows with an almost mystical purple-red luminosity.
Stored meticulously in the dry climates of Kunming and Xi'an, this Sheng Pu-erh is designed for transformation. Today, you taste pine nuts and wild florals dancing above a pleasantly bitter-sweet foundation. In five years, expect deeper woodiness and honeyed undertones. In fifteen, the complexity becomes orchestral. This is not simply tea—it is a living artifact, a bridge between scientific discovery and ancient craft, waiting to unfold its secrets in your cup and your collection.
Ready to Start Your Sheng Pu-erh Journey?
- Institutional Provenance: Directly sourced from Yunnan Tea Research Institute with full traceability to the original 1985 Zi Juan cultivar.
- Clean Dry Storage: Maintained in controlled, odor-free environments in Kunming and Xi'an—no musty notes, no contamination, pure evolutionary potential.
- Limited Annual Production: The rarity of true Purple Rhododendron material means each pressing is inherently finite—once sold, availability is uncertain.
This is your opportunity to own a piece of tea history—a scientifically significant, visually stunning, health-enhancing Sheng Pu-erh with decades of transformation ahead. Whether you drink it now for its vibrant pine-floral character or cellar it for future complexity, the Purple Rhododendron rewards patience and intention alike. Secure your cakes today before this limited production disappears.
