SIPDOWN! and thanks to terri for this one, as is usually lately heh. Had this earlier in the afternoon as well. The aroma of this one was much like loashan black. It sort of tripped me out a little. The tea did not have the same depth that loashan black does, but this was almost like it’s milder more golden second cousin. heh. I quite enjoyed this one even if there is a bit of a floral note at the end of the sip. No oonlongy taste here for me though so that makes me a happy camper!
Oriental Beauty - Dongfang Meiren Wulong
Oolong Tea by The Fragrant Cup
Once called Formosa Tea, this was Queen Victoria favorite tea. Oriental Beauty, known as Bai Hao Wulong in Taiwan, is one of the rarest teas on the island. Interestingly enough, the leaves of this tea are both lucky and unlucky. In order to make this special tea, a small green insect called the Tea Jassid must swarm in the thousands onto a tea farm and bite the young leaves of the bushes. Basically the leaves get many of their nutrients drained from them, leaving them limp and yellow. This however is a blessing to the farmer! These and only these leaves are picked, and with deep oxidation the tea is blessed with sweet honey notes, a deep fruity taste and sometimes even a hint of cinnamon can be detected. So tasty, so rich, so rare and once so sought after, 15kg was thought to be worth as much as a house in Taiwan.
Location: Beipu, Xinzhu County, Taiwan
Harvested: Summer 2012
Varietal: Qing Xin Da Mao
