Camellia sinensis var. assamica ★★★☆☆

Taiwan Tea No.8

Also known as: TTES No. 8 · Tai Cha No.8 · Taiwan Assam

Taiwan's classic Assam black tea — malty, brisk and full, the Sun Moon Lake workhorse.

Species
var. assamica
Lineage
Modern selection
Country
Taiwan
Year
1973
Leaf size
Large
Cup quality
3/5

Taiwan Tea No.8 (台茶8號, TTES No.8) is a large-leaf Assam cultivar selected by the Yuchi branch of Taiwan's Tea Research and Extension Station from a single plant of the Indian Assam Jaipuri variety, and named as Taiwan cultivar No.8 in 1973. It descends directly from the Assam seed the Japanese imported to Sun Moon Lake in the 1920s.

It is the classic Taiwan Assam: a malty, brisk, full-bodied black tea that was the mainstay of Sun Moon Lake production before Ruby 18's rise. Still widely grown around Yuchi, it gives an honest, robust red tea and is often the everyday counterpart to the more aromatic Ruby 18 and Hong Yun.

Modern selection
Selected from heirloom material in the 20th century. Developed 1973. Parent material: Jaipuri (Indian Assam).
Lineage data & sources
Clonal / landrace selection — selected from its regional population, so a specific mother and father plant are not individually documented. Note: a single-plant selection from the Indian Assam Jaipuri variety rather than a two-parent cross.
Sources: teadb.org

Teas produced

Black

Flavor signature

MaltyBriskHoneyFullRich

Growing regions

Origins where Taiwan Tea No.8 grows

Brands likely carrying Taiwan Tea No.8

Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.

Related cultivars

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