Oriental Beauty from Qi Aerista. . . .

Qi Aerista’s Oriental Beauty oolong is so dark I’d probably have thought it was a black tea if I hadn’t been told otherwise by its name.

This tea has a really unique honey-black flavor that comes from, interestingly, its odd chemical makeup. These tea leaves were attacked by a certain kind of bug; so the tea, as a defense, released a chemical to attract its predators. This chemical (or the interaction with the bugs, not sure which) tastes like there’s pollen ground into the rich woodsy earth of the tea. Because it’s a straight black, I’m fairly sure this doesn’t translate into calories. Yessss.

I like this tea a lot. It has a good taste and a cool story. I offer up a thumb pointed to the sky, friends.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy:  Qi Aerista
Description

This tea is no longer offered on the site but click below for teas that are.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Bai Hao (Oriental Beauty) – Tillerman Tea Co.

All hail the Queen! The queen of teas that is. Everything about this tea shouts royalty. Unfortunately, the dry smell isn’t coming through due to cross contamination from another tea but the wet smell more then makes up for the loss. In the first 30 seconds of steeping an aroma blossoms from the leaves that is borderline heavenly. One would think they infused rose oil into the leaves. It’s so floral it almost hides the earthy tones.

The essence extracted from the leaves in the water, aka the flavor is truly unique. Floral and fruity notes with a honey finish. Considering that it’s 70% oxidized, I’m surprised that the earthy tones are so mellow.  The surprises keep hitting with this tea. I’ve tried it hot, luke-warm, and cold and find the flavor notes do best right in the middle.

Oolongs are truly one of those tea types that are not well known enough the USA. If you are a first time tea drinker you generally start off with something that isn’t even tea [to be considered tea it has to have the camellia sinensis leaf in it]. These are generally called herbals or tisanes. They then will most likely try blacks like English breakfast or scented greens like Jasmine. It’s not until you really dive deeper into the world of tea that you discover oolongs. Even the world of oolong is intense. The type of oolong you get depends on how much it is oxidized. As I said before this tea (Bai Hao) is 70% oxidized and thus is closer to the black tea spectrum. If you truly want to branch out into the tea world or just want to discover more about oolongs and you don’t know where to start, this is a good tea to begin with.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tillerman Tea
Description

 

One of the few high grade teas to be harvested in the summer, this tea, first known as “Bai Hao” in Taiwan, reminds us a bit of a superior first flush Darjeeling. We are not the only ones to think so; the story (certainly apocryphal) goes that Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, enjoyed this tea so much that, when she ran out of her Darjeeling, she dubbed this the “Oriental Beauty.” This was subsequently translated back into Chinese as “Dong Fang Mei Ren” Multi-colored twisted leaves mixed with an abundance of silver furry tips gives this tea its visual appeal. The unique flavor profile results from the way this plant develops. The tea green leaf hopper attacks the young developing bud in the spring causing it to wither on the branch. The lower leaves are harvested in the summer with the withered “white tip” attached. This tea is organically grown in Hsinchu County in Taiwan. For anyone who likes a fruity malty tea like Darjeeling with an intriguing honey note, this is a great alternative. After all, if it was good enough for the Queen. . .

Grower: Hsu Sheng Fu Dashi
Cultivar: Qing Xin Da Pan
Region: Emei, Hsinchu
Altitude: 300m
Harvest: Summer 2016
Oxidation: 70%
Roasted

Brewing Suggestions:

Use between 3-5 grams of tea. This is a wiry leaf so practice is required. Pour 195°F (90° C) over the leaves and steep for 1 minute. Always remember to adjust steeping time depending on water temperature, amount of tea you have and personal flavor preference. Increase time and temperature slightly with each infusion.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here

Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea

Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea is also known as Dong Fang Mei Ren, White Tip Oolong, or even Bai Hao Oolong, to some. The cultivar of Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea is Chin Shin Dah Pan. It has a medium level of fermentation, too!

I really loved the bi or tri colored winding leaves. Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea has a slightly herbal and floral aroma once infused. It brews fairly dark for this type of oolong, too! The flavor is delicate, a sweeter floral flavor, and even a tad like honey towards the end of the sip. Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea has an incredible natural flavor. It seems hard to over infuse or interrupt. As the tea cools naturally at room temperature I could pick up on subtle nutty notes and it seems to have a creamy yet refreshing aftertaste, too! I REALLY like this! WAY TO GO Taiwan Beipu Oolong Tea – Oriental Beauty – Competition Grade from Cameron Tea!


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Cameron Tea
Description

This product is only available upon request. Please contact us for a quote.

Region: MaioLi, Taiwan

Type: Oolong Tea

Cultivar: Chin Shin Dah Pan

Also know as: Dong Fang Mei Ren / White Tip Oolong / Bai Hao Oolong

Fermentation level: Medium

Taste: Floral aroma with sweet fruity and honey taste.

When to drink: Throughout the day

Terroir: Beipu is one of the most well-known Oriental Beauty growing areas in Taiwan. Located at altitude of 400m, tea trees grow on leeward side of hills with both high humidity and lots of sunlight which create ideal environment for attracting green leafhopper (Jacobiasca formosana). The bites of leafhoppers start the oxidation on the leaves which produce distinctive fruity and honey flavour.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter

TeaSetterTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong Tea

Where to Buy: Tea Setter

Tea Description:

Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

It’s time to talk about Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter.  This is a delicious cuppa that I enjoyed a while back that NEEDS to be talked about.

Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter doesn’t need much of an infusion time.  It’s a hardy portion that came in the sample bag and it was then suggested to infuse in boiling water for about 20 seconds.  And you know what?  20 seconds is all Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter needed!  This tea stands up to multiple infusions, too!

When it comes to flavor this tea makes me smile!  It has a beautiful flavor!  It’s sweet and thirst-quenching.  It has a touch of sweet peas hinting underneath your stereo-typical Oriental Beauty flavor.

This tea – Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Tea Setter – is nothing short of 2 thumbs up!

 

Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea

s-l500Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong Tea

Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea

Tea Description:

Taiwan characteristic Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea, a long narrow strip like of various colors, is also called Bai Hao Oolong Tea. Bright white-tipped leaves, a symbol of high level Oriental Beauty Tea, can only be cultivated irreplaceable strong fragrance in organic ecological tea plantation. This tea, with very limited quantity, can only be produced by a senior experienced tea master at one harvest each year. Being exceptionally beautiful in appearance and having the most exquisite taste from any other Oolong teas, the tea starts with a floral aroma and gives you a naturally sweet fruit and honey taste which is totally different from the other Oolong teas. This is the best choice you won’t miss when you experience firsthand “FormosaTaiwan Tea”.

Learn more about this tea here. <– Update this link to the vendor’s product page. Don’t forget to remove this instructional text!

Taster’s Review:

Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea is the tea of the moment here at The Sororitea Sisters!  First I have to say I am so honored and delighted to sample this tea for several reasons one being because it’s a Top Grade Tea and another reason being it’s an Oriental Beauty and how could I pass that up?

The leaves of this Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea are thin, long, winding, and crispy.  It smells like what an Oriental Beauty is supposed to smell like.  Post infusion the tea liquor color is amazingly golden almost sun-kissed!  The aroma follows suit with a near natural citrusy type flavor to it.  This Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea holds up to multiple infusions and morphs on your tongue with each additional infusion.  Nothing beats the first infusion for me personally because of the color, aroma, and flavor.  But the follow-up infusions are pretty impressive, too!

Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea is a sipping tea.  I savored every moment of this one.  I was careful not to gulp because gulping would mean I was rushing thru it and that is something I didn’t want to do with this tea.  If there are tea moments you don’t want to end – this would be one of mine.  Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea gets two thumbs up from me!