Oriental Beauty is a type of oolong tea made in Taiwan. It's name used to be 膨風茶 (lit. braggart's tea), but is now called 東方美人 (lit. oriental beauty). It's name stems from a few possible origins, with one even recognising the late Queen Elizabeth II as the one who coined the term. Unlike other teas, Oriental Beauty tea is made from bug-bitten leaves, where jassids bite on the tea plant, releasing terpenes that give the final product a honey-like taste.
Typically, Oriental Beauty Oolong is made from the Qing Xin Da Mao (青心大冇) varietal in northwestern parts of Taiwan such as in Hsinchu or Miaoli, but this Oriental Beauty we have here is made from the Jin Xuan (金萱) varietal in Pinglin District, northeastern Taiwan. The honey-like taste is strong in this tea, paired along with some complex flavour notes that make this tea really enjoyable to drink. It also boasts a juicy and oily texture as well as a lingering aftertaste that really makes this tea an experience that you need to try.
Tea Information
- Harvest Date: 22nd May 2023
- Origin: Yuguang Village, Pinglin District, New Taipei City, Taiwan (台灣，新北市，坪林區，漁光里)
- Varietal: Jin Xuan (金萱)
- Elevation: 500m
- Source: Directly from Farmer
- Organic?: No, but insignificant to no level of pesticide present
Map
Brewing Guide
Gongfu Brewing:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/100ml
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 30s, +15s for each subsequent steep
Western Brewing:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/400ml
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 3m, +1m for each subsequent steep
Grandpa Style:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/300ml
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 3-4m, top up to taste
Don't know anything about these brewing styles? Fret not! Read our "How to Brew Chinese Tea" article here!
* Ultimately, experiment with the different parameters to find what works for you. If you think it's too bitter, reduce the temperature. If it's too strong, reduce the number of leaves used. This is just a guide with rough parameters to get you started.
Media
Trying out the farmer's Pinglin teas
The farmer's tea factory
The farmer's tea farm
