China Jat
Hardy small-leaf China bush — the aromatic, muscatel-capable backbone of Darjeeling.
China jat is the China-type (var. sinensis) seed-grown bush race — the smaller-leaved, cold-hardy, aromatic counterpart to the big-leaf Assam jat. China bushes were carried from China into Darjeeling and the Kangra valley in the 19th century and form the genetic backbone of classic Darjeeling tea.
Where Assam jat gives body and briskness, China jat gives Darjeeling its delicate, flowery, muscatel-capable character and its tolerance of cold high-altitude gardens. Most named Darjeeling clones (AV2, B157, P312) are selections out of this China-bush stock, which is why it sits in the catalog alongside Assam jat as one of the two foundational Indian seed races.
Teas produced
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Darjeeling, Kangra, early Indian & Sri Lankan plantings
Origins where China Jat grows
Brands likely carrying China Jat
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.