| Name | Báiháo wūlóng / 白毫乌龙 |
| English | Baihao Wulong |
| Region | Hsinchu, Taiwan |
| Price | ¥100.00 for 50g |
Baihao Wulong is the first stop in Taiwan for the Taobao Tea Trail. On receiving the Taobao package there is the immediate first impression that the Taiwanese-produced teas have a level of design, branding and refinement that, both exceeds their mainland counterparts, and also likely points to the future of mainland Chinese tea industry.
Tea Tip – History of Tea in Taiwan
According to a Taiwanese government website there are three distinct periods to the tea industry in Taiwan:
- Qing dynasty (1796-1895)
Characterized by the importing of tea varieties from Fujian and the cultivation in northern Taiwan - Japanese Colonial Period (1895-1945)
Expansion of the industry - Retrocession to the Present (After 1945)
Increased emphasis on tea culture, specialization and refinement
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Wulong teas typically range in oxidization from 30-80% with Baohao Wulong falling in at 70%. Baohao Wulong is a very colorful tea with a taste reminiscent of Qimen Hong Cha.
More Information (from Baidu Baike):
Baihao oolong is native to Taiwan. The island remains the world’s only producer of the tea. Baohao is regarded by some as the most premium type of Ooloong tea. It is fermented to 70%. The tea trees are strictly fertilizer-free and are planted and harvested solely by hands. Harvest season is from mid-May to mid-June.
The tea leaves have a combination of hues including brown, white, yellow and green. The liquid is amber color. Baihao oolong invokes the taste of ripe fruit and honey. It is a very soothing and mellow tea with a predominantly sweet aroma. Baihao oolong tastes as great hot as it does cold. In Taiwan, some people like to add a few drops of Brandy into cold tea, claiming that the liquor fully brings out the aroma of the tea.
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