Taiwanese tea
Encyclopedia
Taiwan
is famous for its tea
which are of three main types: oolong tea
, black tea
and green tea
. The earliest record of tea trees found in Taiwan can be traced back to 1717 in Shi Sha Lien, present-day Yuchih and Puli
, Nantou County
. Some of the teas retain the island's former name, Formosa.
Oolongs grown in Taiwan account for about 20% of world production.
, Nantou County, Taiwan)(凍頂鄉，南投，台灣). This is said to be the origin of Dongding Oolong Dong Ding tea
from Taiwan.
After the Treaties of Tianjin were ratified in 1860 and the port of Tamsui was opened for trade, British entrepreneur John Dodd began working with tea merchants and farmers to promote Taiwan tea, slowly developing it as an export item. Before long, tea ranked first among Taiwan’s top-three exports, ahead of sugar and camphor. The earliest teas exported during the Ching dynasty were oolong and baozhong tea, which began to be sold abroad in 1865 and 1881, respectively.
In 1867, Dodd started a tea company in Wanhua, Taipei Taipei city(萬華，台北市), and started to sell Taiwanese oolong tea to the world under the name "Formosa Oolong". Aware of British plans to develop a tea industry in India
, he successfully sought profit in developing an alternative tea product on the island. Pouchong oolong was considered to be more flowery than Baihao Oolong, Pouchong was exported under the name "Formosa Pouching". In fact, Dongding Oolong (凍頂烏龍茶), White Tip Oolong (白毫烏龍茶) and Pouchong Oolong(包種烏龍茶), Alpine or High Mountain Oolong, are all categorized as Oolong tea, which contributes a large part of Taiwan tea industry. Oolong tea was practically synonymous with Taiwanese tea in the late 19th century, and competitors in Ceylon sought a US market advantage by publishing materials emphasizing the use of human foot trampling during its production. This was countered by the introduction of mechanical processing publicized at the St. Louis Exhibition.
Mainland China was subject to trade embargo
s during the 1950s and 1960s, and during this time Taiwanese tea growers and marketers focused on existing, well-known varieties. After the mainland's products became more widely available and the market for teas became more competitive, the Taiwanese tea industry successfully changed its emphasis to producing specialty versions, especially of Oolong
s. A government Tea Inspection Office grades teas into 18 categories ranging from Standard to Choice. 17,384 tonne
s of tea were produced in 2008.
The government-supported Tea Research and Extension Station, established to promote Taiwanese tea in 1903, conducts research and experimentation.
and Sheila Lukins
describe three Taiwanese oolongs as the "Champagne of tea". Their special quality may be due to unique growing conditions.
Oolong is harvested five times per year in Taiwan, between April and December. The July and August crops generally receive the highest grades.
, was brought to Taiwan during the 19th century from the mainland's Wuyi Mountains
. Its special qualities have been attributed to an almost continuous fog. Teas harvested in the spring are entered in a competition and the winners are quickly bespoken at premium prices, fetching US $2,000 for a 600-gram package during the 1990s. It undergoes less fermentation than most oolongs. A 40-minute roasting over charcoal contributes to its flavor, which also has "nutty, caramel, and chestnut" elements.
" from Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s, thus "Formosa Oolong" became popular in the western world for "Oriental Beauty" (東方美人茶). Along with Lishan Oolong, it was one of the most costly exported Taiwanese teas during the 2000s. Its unique flavor originates in part from the inclusion of insect eggs and egg sacs during harvesting, contributing an element that has been described as "earthier and more robust" than Earl Grey tea
. The acceptance of this flavor has led to tolerance of the insects and organic growing practices
for this tea.
. Taiwan Mucha Iron Goddess tea (木柵鉄観音), also known as Tie Guanyin, is a traditional oolong. It is roasted and has a stronger taste and a roast nutty character, the tea liquid is reddish-brown. Different from the Anxi Iron Goddess, which is not roasted and green in character.
Grown at altitudes above 2,200 meters, was the costliest Taiwanese tea during the 2000s, commanding prices of over $200 US dollars per 600 grams.
Grown at altitudes above 2,500 meters. Some people name it as The King of Taiwan High Mountain Tea. Because the quantity is limited due to the geographical condition, the prices per 500 grams is often at the range of $200 US dollars up to $500. Because of its popularity, there are unscrupulous businessmen selling fake/unqualified tea using Dayulin's brand name.
This is the most widely known general name for lightly oxidized oolong tea, much of it picked in winter and therefore termed “Winter tea”. Among the oolongs grown on Ali Mountain, tea merchants tend to stress the special qualities of Gold Lily tea var. ( 金萱: Chin-Hsuan, or Jin Xuan) tea, which is really the name of a cultivar developed in Taiwan in the 1980s. The oolong tea made with it has a particularly deep flavor.
v. assamica and a native variety (Camellia sinensis forma formosensis), and is said to have notes of cinnamon and mint.
Tea Name English and Chinese, and tea type:
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
is famous for its tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
which are of three main types: oolong tea
Formosa oolong tea
-Brief:Formosa Oolong or Taiwanese Oolong is any oolong tea that is grown and produced in Taiwan. Taiwan is also known as Formosa from the Portuguese or Old Spanish Ilha Formosa, meaning “beautiful island”...
, black tea
Black tea
Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidized than the oolong, green, and white varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the...
and green tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
. The earliest record of tea trees found in Taiwan can be traced back to 1717 in Shi Sha Lien, present-day Yuchih and Puli
Puli, Nantou
Puli is an urban township in Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the geographic center of Taiwan.In the 19th century the city was known as Posia or Polisia . The Atayal name of the settlement was Sabaha Bakalas, meaning "house of stars"....
, Nantou County
Nantou County
Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
. Some of the teas retain the island's former name, Formosa.
Oolongs grown in Taiwan account for about 20% of world production.
History
According to Lien Hen (連橫; Taiwanese historian :zh:連橫 (人名)), in the late 18 century, Ke Chao (柯朝) brought some tea tree from Fuchien, China Fuchien into Taiwan and planted in Jie Yu Keng (櫛魚坑), currently known as Ruifang District, New Taipei City. However, transaction records indicated that tea business in Muzha (木柵, Taipei 台北市) area started as early as late 18th century. Thus we can believe that tea has been merchandised in Taiwan for more than 2 centuries. In 1855, Lin Feng Chi (林鳳池) brought the Cing Shin Oolong(青心烏龍) plants from Wuyi Mountain (Fujien Province, China)(武夷山，福建，中國) into Taiwan and planted in Dongding Village (LuguLugu, Nantou
-Traffic:*County Road 139：Lugu － Shuili*County Road 151：Jhushan － Sun Link Sea Highway-External links:*...
, Nantou County, Taiwan)(凍頂鄉，南投，台灣). This is said to be the origin of Dongding Oolong Dong Ding tea
Dong Ding tea
Dong Ding is an Oolong tea from Taiwan. The original leaves were taken from a much older tea plant in China's Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province. The name "Dong Ding" means "Frozen Summit", which is the name of the mountain on which the original tea plants taken from the Wuyi Mountains were planted...
from Taiwan.
After the Treaties of Tianjin were ratified in 1860 and the port of Tamsui was opened for trade, British entrepreneur John Dodd began working with tea merchants and farmers to promote Taiwan tea, slowly developing it as an export item. Before long, tea ranked first among Taiwan’s top-three exports, ahead of sugar and camphor. The earliest teas exported during the Ching dynasty were oolong and baozhong tea, which began to be sold abroad in 1865 and 1881, respectively.
In 1867, Dodd started a tea company in Wanhua, Taipei Taipei city(萬華，台北市), and started to sell Taiwanese oolong tea to the world under the name "Formosa Oolong". Aware of British plans to develop a tea industry in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, he successfully sought profit in developing an alternative tea product on the island. Pouchong oolong was considered to be more flowery than Baihao Oolong, Pouchong was exported under the name "Formosa Pouching". In fact, Dongding Oolong (凍頂烏龍茶), White Tip Oolong (白毫烏龍茶) and Pouchong Oolong(包種烏龍茶), Alpine or High Mountain Oolong, are all categorized as Oolong tea, which contributes a large part of Taiwan tea industry. Oolong tea was practically synonymous with Taiwanese tea in the late 19th century, and competitors in Ceylon sought a US market advantage by publishing materials emphasizing the use of human foot trampling during its production. This was countered by the introduction of mechanical processing publicized at the St. Louis Exhibition.
Mainland China was subject to trade embargo
Embargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
s during the 1950s and 1960s, and during this time Taiwanese tea growers and marketers focused on existing, well-known varieties. After the mainland's products became more widely available and the market for teas became more competitive, the Taiwanese tea industry successfully changed its emphasis to producing specialty versions, especially of Oolong
Oolong
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea produced through a unique process including withering under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting. Most oolong teas, especially those of fine quality, involve unique tea plant cultivars that are exclusively used for particular varieties...
s. A government Tea Inspection Office grades teas into 18 categories ranging from Standard to Choice. 17,384 tonne
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s of tea were produced in 2008.
The government-supported Tea Research and Extension Station, established to promote Taiwanese tea in 1903, conducts research and experimentation.
Tea areas
Major tea growing areas:- Northern Taiwan: Includes Hsindian, Pinglin, Mucha, Shenkeng, Shidian, Sanhsia, Nangang, and Ilan.
- Mid-central Area: Includes Miaoli, and Hsinchu.
- Eastern Taiwan: Includes Taitung, and Hualian.
- South-central Taiwan: Includes Nantou, Pingtung Chiayi, Taichung, and Yunlin.
- High Mountain Regions: Includes Alishan, Yu Shan, Hsueh Shan, and Taitung mountain ranges.
Oolong Teas
As Taiwan is lucky to have great environment for tea growing, and with the developing of tea technology, Taiwan has produced many top quality teas, all can be called as “Formosa Tea”. The best known ones including "Formosa Dongding oolong", "Formosa Alishan Oolong", "Formosa Wenshan Pouchong","Formosa Oriental Beauty", "Formosa Shanlinxi Oolong", "Formosa Jade Oolong" and more. According to the 1997 version of the Joy of Cooking, Taiwanese oolongs are considered the finest by some tea connoisseurs. The US cooks Julee RossoJulee Rosso
Julee Rosso is an American cook and food writer. In 1977 she and Sheila Lukins opened and ran a gourmet food shop in New York City called The Silver Palate. In the 1980s they wrote, with Michael McLaughlin, The Silver Palate Cookbook, The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook, and others...
and Sheila Lukins
Sheila Lukins
Sheila Lukins , was an American cook and food writer. She was most famous as the co-author, with Julee Rosso, of the The Silver Palate series of cookbooks, and The New Basics Cookbook, a very popular set of food guides which introduced many Americans to French, Southern and Eastern European cooking...
describe three Taiwanese oolongs as the "Champagne of tea". Their special quality may be due to unique growing conditions.
Oolong is harvested five times per year in Taiwan, between April and December. The July and August crops generally receive the highest grades.
Dongding
This tea, most notably grown in the mountains of Nantou CountyNantou County
Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
, was brought to Taiwan during the 19th century from the mainland's Wuyi Mountains
Wuyi Mountains
The Wuyi Mountains are a mountain range located in the prefecture of Nanping, in the northern border of Fujian province with Jiangxi province, China. The mountains cover an area of 60 km². In 1999, Mount Wuyi entered UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural...
. Its special qualities have been attributed to an almost continuous fog. Teas harvested in the spring are entered in a competition and the winners are quickly bespoken at premium prices, fetching US $2,000 for a 600-gram package during the 1990s. It undergoes less fermentation than most oolongs. A 40-minute roasting over charcoal contributes to its flavor, which also has "nutty, caramel, and chestnut" elements.
Pouchong tea
Pouchong oolong, also called light oolong, is a lightly fermented tea, twist shape, with floral notes, and usually not roasted, somewhere between green tea and what is usually considered Oolong tea (Chinese: 烏龍; pinyin: Wulong, 'Black Dragon'), though often classified with the latter due to its lack of the sharper green tea flavours. 'Pouchong' refers to its paper wrapping.Oriental Beauty Tea
White Tip Oolong is very fruity in taste and got the name "Oriental BeautyDong Fang Mei Ren tea
Dong Fang Mei Ren tea , is an Oolong tea produced in Hsinchu, Taiwan. A heavily fermented, non-roasted, tip-type oolong, traditionally known as Oriental Beauty or more recently White Tip Oolong, in Chinese: Bai Hao Oolong tea, Pon Fon Cha, Boast tea, and Champagne Oolong.This tea is a tippy tea,...
" from Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s, thus "Formosa Oolong" became popular in the western world for "Oriental Beauty" (東方美人茶). Along with Lishan Oolong, it was one of the most costly exported Taiwanese teas during the 2000s. Its unique flavor originates in part from the inclusion of insect eggs and egg sacs during harvesting, contributing an element that has been described as "earthier and more robust" than Earl Grey tea
Earl Grey tea
Earl Grey tea is a tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit....
. The acceptance of this flavor has led to tolerance of the insects and organic growing practices
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
for this tea.
Iron Goddess
This variety originated on the mainland, and is associated with a legend in which a tea grower found a unique tea plant near an iron statue of Kuan YinKuan Yin
Guanyin is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin which means "Observing the Sounds of the World". She is also sometimes referred to as Guanyin Pusa...
. Taiwan Mucha Iron Goddess tea (木柵鉄観音), also known as Tie Guanyin, is a traditional oolong. It is roasted and has a stronger taste and a roast nutty character, the tea liquid is reddish-brown. Different from the Anxi Iron Goddess, which is not roasted and green in character.
High Mountain tea
Also called Alpine oolong, grown in altitudes of 1,000 meters or above.- Lishan(梨山) oolong
Grown at altitudes above 2,200 meters, was the costliest Taiwanese tea during the 2000s, commanding prices of over $200 US dollars per 600 grams.
- Dayulin (大禹嶺) oolong
Grown at altitudes above 2,500 meters. Some people name it as The King of Taiwan High Mountain Tea. Because the quantity is limited due to the geographical condition, the prices per 500 grams is often at the range of $200 US dollars up to $500. Because of its popularity, there are unscrupulous businessmen selling fake/unqualified tea using Dayulin's brand name.
- Ali Mountain (阿里山), or other high mountains.
This is the most widely known general name for lightly oxidized oolong tea, much of it picked in winter and therefore termed “Winter tea”. Among the oolongs grown on Ali Mountain, tea merchants tend to stress the special qualities of Gold Lily tea var. ( 金萱: Chin-Hsuan, or Jin Xuan) tea, which is really the name of a cultivar developed in Taiwan in the 1980s. The oolong tea made with it has a particularly deep flavor.
Osmanthus Oolong
An oolong scented with osmanthus flowers, the tea is also packaged with some flowers added after the scenting process. This tea is roasted, with floral and warming notes.Black tea
Black Jade Taiwan Tea TTES #18 is a cultivar developed by the Taiwan Tea Research and Experiment Station during the 1990s. The now popular tea is a hybrid of Camellia sinensisCamellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce Chinese tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. White tea, green tea, oolong, pu-erh tea and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed...
v. assamica and a native variety (Camellia sinensis forma formosensis), and is said to have notes of cinnamon and mint.
Green tea
Green tea, such as Dragon Well (Longjing) and Green Spiral (Biluochun), are grown in Taipei County’s Sanhsia area.Green Spiral
A green tea originated in China and grown in Taiwan's Sanhsia area in the southwestern tip of Taipei County, and also grown in China. The name (碧螺春茶: Pi Lo Chun or Bi Luo Chun, Bi Lu Chun) in Chinese means "lit. meaning: Spring green snail tea". The name was given by the Emperor Kang Xi in the seventeenth or eighteenth century who felt the steeped tea looked like tiny green snails. The tea leaves are only picked once a year during mid-March to mid-April when the leaves are at their peak. Due to the stringent selection process for high quality leaves, this tea is not widely available. According to fable, it originated from a tea tree watered by the tears of the dragon-betrothed girl Bi Luo as she cried for her dragon-slain (same dragon) beloved and then herself died - supposedly the tree sprouted leaves the next spring.Taiwan's Famous Teas
Taiwan's Famous Teas (台灣名茶) is a list of the most notable Taiwanese Teas. Below is a list of popular teas of Taiwan.Tea Name English and Chinese, and tea type:
- 凍頂茶 Dongding tea; oolong
- 文山包種茶 Wen Mountain (Wenshan) Pouchong tea or Light oolong; oolong
- 東方美人茶 Oriental Beauty or White Tip Oolong; oolong
- 松柏長青茶 Light Oolong or Ching tea; oolong
- 阿里山珠露茶 Ali Mountain oolong; oolong
- 台灣高山茶 Taiwan Alpine (High Mountain Oolong); oolong
- 日月潭紅茶 Sun Moon Lake Black; black tea
- 木柵鐵觀音 Mucha Iron Goddess; oolong
- 三峽龍井茶 Sanshia Dragon Well; green tea
- 龍泉茶 Longquan Tea; oolong
See also
- Taiwanese tea cultureTaiwanese tea cultureTaiwanese tea culture, include tea arts, tea ceremony, and a very social way of enjoying tea. While the most common teas are oolongs especially Taiwanese oolongs such as Iron Goddess and Alpine Oolong; Puers, black teas and green teas are also popular. Many of the classical arts can be seen in...
- Chinese teaChinese teaThe practice of drinking tea has had a long history in China, having originated there. The Chinese drink tea during many parts of the day such as during meals for good health or for simple pleasure.-History:...
- Tea Research and Extension StationTea Research and Extension StationThe Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station also known as TRES is the research and development center of Taiwan Tea where scientists and tea masters conduct study, research and experiment to improve tea plantations, to develop new and better cultivars, to manufacture and educate the industry and...
Taiwan TRES