Yunnan Da Ye
Earthy, complex, age-worthy. The genetic basis for all Yunnan tea production.
Camellia sinensis var. assamica — known in Yunnan as Da Ye (大叶, "big leaf") — is the large-leaf tea species native to Yunnan and the broader region spanning northern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northeastern India. This is one of the two recognized tea species (alongside Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, the Chinese small-leaf tea) and the genetic origin of all assamica tea cultivars worldwide. Indian Assam tea, Sri Lankan Ceylon tea, and African tea industries all trace their genetic lineage back to assamica material that originated in Yunnan and adjacent areas.
Within Yunnan, assamica material ranges from modern commercial plantings of cloned cultivars through traditional seed-grown plantings to the ancient gushu (古树, "old tree") trees that produce the most prestigious pu-erh. Gushu trees are 100-800+ years old; some documented specimens are over 1000 years old. These ancient trees have deeper root systems and slower growth that produce concentrated cup character — the basis for premium pu-erh that ages over decades into the most complex tea in the world. Gushu material from specific mountains (Bingdao, Lao Banzhang, Yiwu, Bulang) commands pricing that rivals vintage wine.
Teas produced
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Yunnan (all pu-erh regions)
Origins where Yunnan Da Ye grows
Brands likely carrying Yunnan Da Ye
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.