Cultivar: Da Yeh Oolong

Harvested: May 23rd, 2021

Origin: HuaLien county, Taiwan East Coast

Process: Insect bitten and fully oxidized What makes this red tea special is that the farmer grows it without pesticide so that its leaves will be bitten by the small Jacobiasca formosana Paoli (green leaf insects). It's the very same insect that bites the leaves of leaves of Oriental Beauty Oolong (and Concubine Oolong). Lightly roasted. 

1. View

The leaves are quite small, because it's the late spring harvest, when it's not yet as hot as in late Juy or August. They contain buds. The brew is bright red and has a very good transparency and shine. The spent leaves are red, a good sign that the oxidation level is close to 100%.

2. Scents

Dry: honey, sugar and exotic fruit cake. Brew: the notes of honey are at the same level as the ripe fruits and chocolate scents. The scents are still a little bit muted by the fact that this is a recently processed tea. 

3. Taste

The brew is very sweet and mellow. Even brewed in competition mode (3 gr for 6 minutes), there's virtually no astringency and barely any bitterness. 

Conclusion: This spring 2021 red tea is of high quality thanks, in part, to the small size of the harvested leaves. The tea is easy to brew and its sweet flavors make it also a wonderful tea for a sweet breakfast or an afternoon snack!