Cultivar: Da Yeh Oolong

Harvested: May 26th, 2025

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 golden 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 (cherries) and chocolate scents. 

3. Taste

The brew is very sweet and mellow. Slight astringency with a fruity lingering note in the palate.

Conclusion: This spring 2025 red tea is of high quality thanks, in part, to the small size of the harvested leaves. The organic red tea tastes sweet, pure and powerful. Like an Oolong, it can be brewed several times, thanks to the fact that the leaves are whole and don't exhaust themselves quickly.