What’s So Special About Oriental Beauty Tea?

東方美人茶是台灣獨特技術的發明。 最初，這是一個美麗的錯誤。 當茶農遇到昆蟲問題時，他們會採摘被昆蟲叮咬的樹上最好的部分葉子和芽。 然後，他們把它們帶到茶葉實驗室，發現昆蟲吸食了茶莖和芽汁後，開始了氧化過程。 因此，這個過程為茶增添了天然的甜味和果香。 stems and buds juice, it started the oxidation process. Hence, this process added natural sweetness and fruity aromas to the tea.

After this significant discovery, the farmer used this skill to grow the tea by feeding the insect, Jacobiasca formosana. And for the need of the feeding, the tea must grow in warmer areas on the leeward side of hills in regions. It also requires sufficient humidity and sunshine at lower altitudes (300–800m) between the mountains and the plains. That’s why this unique plantation technique is only suitable to harvest in the middle of summer, and only about 40–50% of the leaves are used. However, as climate changes globally, Taiwan enjoyed a warm winter in 2019. And this batch of Oriental Beauty tea was harvested in December 2019, which made it especially unique.

However, the annual yield is still low, and the price is relatively high. As a result, the Oriental Beauty Tea is considered as one type of rare and SPECIALITY tea. Besides, the moisture content of Oriental Beauty Tea is higher than other teas; the withering process takes longer hence leading to the longer hydrolysis and oxidation processes. The longer time helped generate the typical sweet flavour and taste of this tea. It was thought to have been named Oriental Beauty by Queen Elizabeth the second when she tasted the tea.

Oriental Beauty Tea Brewing Guide:

1. Tea to water ratio: 1g tea:80ml water; use filtered water and ceramic teaware to enhance the flavour.
2. Water temperature: 80-90°C
3. Brewing time: 8 minutes. 1-3 re-steeping