Formosa Oolong Fancy Grade

Many people in the west are unaware that some of the world's finest teas are grown in Taiwan. Taiwan enjoys an excellent climate for growing tea. Summers are very humid but not overly hot and winter temperatures rarely drop as low as 50 degrees. But it takes more than good weather and good soil to produce great oolong teas.

The production of top quality oolong tea is very labor-intensive. After being plucked, fresh shoots are spread on a flat bamboo basket and withered under sunlight for up to an hour. The leaves are then withered at room temperature on a clean surface for six to eight hours. Once an hour, the leaves are gently agitated by hand which greatly accelerates the production of flavor compounds. The edges of the leaves turn red and the moisture content drops. The leaves are then pan-fired for 15 minutes at a high temperature which inactivates the leaf enzymes and stops the fermentation process. Finally the leaves are rolled and dried.

The first tea plants arrived in Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa) about 150 years ago after traveling about sixty miles over the strait of Formosa from Fujian province in mainland China The plants selected for oolong tea production were chosen for their ability to impart a strong flowery aroma to the product. Using standard green tea plants would have resulted in much weaker flowery notes.

In the next few decades the tea industry grew rapidly and the local tea growers began to make some teas that outshone even the finest Chinese oolongs. This great tradition continues to this day and Fancy Formosa Oolong is one of their most remarkable achievements.

Fancy Formosa Oolong has an aroma and a taste like no other tea. The long twisted leaves, a mixture of brown, black and red with bits of green and silver, turn a rich copper color as they steep.

These leaves brew into a beautiful bright golden cup but its true beauty is revealed in its ethereal aroma. As you sip, you will discover delicate but luxuriant flavor notes of fresh peaches and a hint of spice with no astringency and no bitterness. This lightness and fruitiness is very surprising to those who usually associate oolong tea with the dark dull tea often served in Chinese restaurants.

Fancy Formosa Oolong is not really recommended for drinking while watching TV or reading the newspaper but it can greatly enhance the pleasure of a good novel or good conversation. This is an excellent tea to enjoy in the evening, maybe an hour or so past dinner. Share it with friends who love good tea and don't be surprised if they ask you to serve it again the next time they visit.

Caffeine

Caffeinated