Tea Cultivar · Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Cuiyu
- Origin
- Taiwan - TTES (Taiwan Tea Experiment Station)
- Registered
- 1981
- Primary use
- oolong
Overview
Cuiyu, officially TTES #13, is the sister release to Jin Xuan from the Taiwan Tea Experiment Station's breakthrough 1981 cultivar program. While Jin Xuan became famous abroad as 'milk oolong,' Cuiyu remained more of a domestic Taiwanese favorite, prized for its strikingly intense floral aroma. Its name 'Cuiyu' means 'jadeite' or 'emerald jade,' referring both to the brilliant green color of the finished leaf and to the cultivar's premium status.
Characteristics
A medium-leafed sinensis with bright emerald-green leaves and a moderately vigorous, upright habit. It buds at roughly the same time as Jin Xuan and is similarly tolerant of lower elevations and warmer microclimates. The leaves are slightly thinner than Jin Xuan's, which contributes to its more delicate aromatic profile.
Flavor profile
Cuiyu is famous for an unusually intense floral aroma reminiscent of betel-nut flower, gardenia, and wild orchid - distinctly different from both Jin Xuan's milkiness and Qing Xin's refined orchid character. The cup is bright, clean, slightly sweet, with a long aromatic finish and lighter body than Jin Xuan.
Where it grows
Taiwan (Nantou, Chiayi, Pinglin)