Oriental Beauty | Taiwanese oolong
Tasting notes: lychee, honey, rose, ripe grapes
Also known as Eastern Beauty, this heavily oxidized Taiwanese Oolong is rich in terpenes—volatile aromatics that give the tea its potent fragrance. This results in a heavenly aroma of honeyed fruits and zesty flowers.
To best enjoy this tea, use lower water temperatures to ensure its rounded and soft mouthfeel, preserving the tender pekoe in the leaves.
Tea Region
Tea tree
Cultivar
Harvest
Picking & processing
Miaoli County, Taiwan
Camellia sinensis sinensis
Qing Xin Da Mao
Spring, 2024
Middle tear leaves
In the sun-dappled hills of northern Taiwan, where tea gardens stretch across gentle slopes and cicadas sing in the summer heat, there grows a tea with a story as enchanting as its flavor—Oriental Beauty, also known as Eastern Beauty Oolong. This tea, unlike any other, owes its distinctive character to the delicate dance between nature and nurture, tradition, and serendipity. It is said that even Queen Elizabeth II was captivated by this tea, hence its regal nickname, "The Champagne of Oolongs."
The journey of Oriental Beauty begins in the warm, humid climate of Miaoli County, where tea leaves are bitten by tiny leafhoppers during the summer months. This unique interaction initiates a chemical reaction in the leaves, enhancing their natural sweetness and imparting a complex, honeyed aroma that sets this tea apart from all others. The leafhopper bites are not a defect; they are a blessing, a natural gift that transforms the tea into a treasure of the tea world.
Harvested by hand, the young, tender leaves and silvery buds are lightly oxidized and skillfully rolled, resulting in a tea that shimmers with shades of gold, silver, and auburn. When brewed, Oriental Beauty unfolds like a story, revealing layer upon layer of flavor and aroma that speak of its lush Taiwanese origins.
Almond biscotti or shortbread cookies
The buttery, nutty flavor of biscotti or shortbread pairs beautifully with the honeyed, fruity notes of Oriental Beauty, enhancing the tea’s natural sweetness.
Fresh or poached stone fruits
Peaches, apricots, or plums—fresh or gently poached—complement the tea’s stone fruit character, creating a harmonious and elegant pairing.
Cheese plate with brie or Camembert
The creamy, mild flavors of Brie or Camembert cheese provide a delightful contrast with the Oriental beauty oolong.
Fruit tart or Pavlova
A delicate fruit tart with a crisp crust, custard filling, and fresh fruit topping, or a light pavlova with whipped cream and berries, pairs exquisitely with Oriental Beauty’s sweet, fruity notes.
Tea character
Leaf
honey, ripe peaches, white flowers
Cup
ripe stone fruits, wild honey, baked apples, cinnamon
Flavor
lychee, honey, rose, ripe grapes
How to brew
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
98 °C
5 gram
100ml
5 sec (add 5 sec per steep for up to 12 steeps)
Temperature
Tea weight
Water amount
Steeping time
98 °C
3 gram
500ml
40 sec (you can resteep 3-5 times)