T-artZ Artisan Tea from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is internationally known, it is one of those producing countries with an ancient tea history initially established by the English in the 19th century.

I was particularly taken by this vintage from the young producer Lochana, because it was entirely hand-made, handmade tea or handcrafted tea as they say in the jargon of the industry. It is a movement that has been emerging for several years in Sri Lanka, breaking away from the teas produced by large manufacturers inherited from the British colonial past.

Its dry leaf is raw, slightly twisted with bronze highlights suggesting a highly oxidized wulong tea or a "light" black tea. The boundary is sometimes blurred. Lochana categorizes it as wulong, I categorize it more as black tea due to its tannic structure.

In the cup, it takes on a beautiful coppery amber hue, and it reveals woody, fruity, slightly smoky notes. It has body with tannins that remain supple.