Cultivar: Da Yeh Oolong

Harvested by hand on May 11th, 2026

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.

Drone video: here.

1. View

The leaves are dark and twisted. The brew is bright and light 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 2026 red tea is of high quality and similar to the 2025 batch. 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.