come from Taiwan and they are often described as being the ‘champagne
of tea’s’.
Oolong tea, also known as Wulong tea is a semi-fermented tea as
compared to green and white tea which are un-fermented and black tea which is
fully fermented.
Taiwan has a unique climate which is ideal for growing extremely
high quality oolong tea. The climate is sub-tropical and with mountains as high
as 13,000 feet or 3939 meters the air is cool yet moist. This climate, combined
with the mountainous terrain, and rich dark soil, produce tea bushes with
leaves that are robust, thick, and soft, to create some of the best Oolong’s
in the world.
The flavours of Oolong change dramatically from season to season.
Oolongs harvested in the spring and winter is considered to be superior to teas
harvested in the summer and autumn. This is because of the different weather
conditions at the time of harvest. The cool, foggy conditions in the spring and
winter give a much more succulent leaf. Spring flavours are generally robust
with a lovely flowery note, whilst winter flavours tend to be crisper and
lighter.
The processing of the tea after harvest accounts for much of the
diversity and uniqueness of Taiwanese oolongs. After the leaves are picked they
are dried in the sun for several hours, then taken indoors where they are
gently shaken in bamboo baskets or a rolling drum. This shaking ‘bruises’
the leaves which starts the fermentation process. The aroma begins to
develop at this stage. The leaves are then rolled into the shape of a pearl or
twisted sideways into a thin strip. When they have been shaped they are fired
at high temperatures to stop any further fermentation. Once the tea is dried it
is known as raw tea which may be further roasted to enhance the flavour and
aroma. The lightly roasted teas usually retain more of a floral character,
whilst the medium and dark roasted teas develop sweeter, fruitier tastes.
High mountain Oolong tea retains all the nutrients and natural
healing elements as green tea but without the raw grassy taste and harsh effect
on the stomach that can make green tea disagreeable to some people. The very
brief fermentation process of oolong tea eliminates the harsh irritants from
the raw tea. It also doesn't contain the tannins that are found in black tea,
and the resulting oolong has a unique wealth of subtle flavours.
The skilled tea makers and the cultivation of Oolong tea can be
compared to the production of fine wine, with each mountain and plantation
producing it own unique bouquet of flavours and aromas. Top quality Taiwanese high mountain Oolongs
are among the grand cru’s of fine tea, with Alishan and Tung
Ting among the best examples. Alishan Oolong
has a fresh, floral, creamy taste and aroma whilst the Imperial Tung Ting
offers a deliciously mild, sweet, fresh creamy tasting tea with undertones of
honey and nectar.
As well as a tea with an exceptional range of flavours and
aromas, high mountain Oolongs has incredible medicinal and health benefits.
Well known in traditional Chinese medicine for aiding digestion and
detoxification, recent research has shown that Oolong tea has powerful
cleansing and protective properties for the lungs. The studies show that
smokers who drink Oolong daily have significantly lower rates of lung cancer
and other respiratory disorders than those who don’t. Packed full of
healthy antioxidants, known as polyphenols and catechins, drinking this tea
daily can provide strong protection against the development of all types of
cancer. As a mild diuretic it promotes the flow of toxins from the body thus
acting as a natural detoxifier. It also alkalises the digestive tract, mouth
and stomach which eliminates the bacteria responsible for bad breath. Drinking Oolong
tea regularly can also reduce blood pressure, balance the levels of blood
sugar, and reduce levels of cholesterol
preventing arteriosclerosis, heart disease and strokes. As high mountain Oolongs
also contain vitamins A, C and E as well as essential minerals and trace
elements, drinking the tea helps to boost the immune system and improve overall
health. 