TE046 - Kucha: anatomy of bitterness (21.8. 2026)

😍 | Time for tea! This time, we will explore a unique tea variety (Camellia sinensis var. Kucha), commonly known as bitter tea (Kucha 苦茶). Although this distinctive tea material is most closely associated with Bulang Mountain (布朗山), it can also be found in several peripheral tea-growing regions of Xishuangbanna, including the Damenglong (大勐龙) micro-region and the Banzhang (班章) area. Why is this tea material so commonly used in factory-produced teas? Which tea gardens produce the most intensely bitter leaves? How does Kucha differ from other tea cultivars? And why do so many tea enthusiasts deliberately seek out the distinctive bitter-sweet (kutian 苦甜) character that has made these teas famous?

🌱 | During this tea event, we will taste 4 different sheng puer teas from several producers to better understand the diversity of tea-making approaches and their influence on the final cup. Both the program and the tea selection is rich, and we're sure you will love it!