Collection: Taiwanese Tea

A Country of Oolong

Most of the tea made in Taiwan is oolong. Gardens sit on mountains above a thousand metres, where a wide swing between day and night temperature and frequent mist give Taiwanese oolong its clear sweetness.

Three Kinds of Taiwanese Oolong

Taiwanese oolong falls into three broad types: lightly oxidised teas such as Wen Shan Bao Zhong and the high mountain oolongs; heavily oxidised teas such as Mu Zha Tie Guan Yin; and the honey scented teas, including Oriental Beauty and honey fragrance high mountain oolong, where the aroma comes from leaves that have been bitten by leafhoppers. Each type is made both as an unroasted, fresh style and as a roasted style where firing is used to build the aroma.

The High Mountain Gardens

Alishan, Lishan, Cuifeng and Dayuling lie between roughly 1,500 m and 2,600 m. The higher the garden, the more slowly the leaf grows and the longer the finish lasts. Lower down, Lugu is known for Dong Ding oolong and Zhushan for its own gardens.

Taiwan Makes Black Tea Too

Around Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan also produces Hong Yu (Ruby No. 18), a black tea with a pronounced menthol aroma. It is the black tea Taiwan is known for.