A Tea Cup Dropped

This Oriental Beauty tea ("Dongfang Meiren" in Chinese) is similar in taste and appearance to first-flush Darjeeling tea. But this is an oolong, albeit heavily oxidized. Infused, the tea liquid is a reddish-gold color. The taste and smell is fruity, rich, smooth. A great Chinese oolong tea for those accustomed to English/Indian black teas, but who want to understand the tradition of Chinese teas.

This is one of Taiwan's most popular teas in the West. Most commonly referred to as Oriental Beauty, a name given to it by Queen Elizabeth herself, as the story goes. Other names for this tea are Formosa Oolong, Dongfang Meiren (Chinese translation of Oriental Beauty), Pong Fong tea (which means to brag in Hakka/Taiwanese), "Puff" tea, Bai Hao (White Hair), Wu Se Cha (5 color tea), and Eastern Beauty.

Brewed color: Deep reddish-gold. Flavor: Fruity, rich, sweet and smooth. Aftertaste: Mild. Organic: Not 'officially', but in actuality -- by the very nature of how these tea is produced. Preparation: For best results, use spring or mineral water that has come to a full boil. (Provides 5-6 quality infusions.)

Origin: Hsin Tzu County, Taiwan. Classification: Dark oolong tea. Package Size: 150 grams (5.33 ounces). Grade: Medium-High. Picking Method: Machine.