Taiwanese Tea Culture - Oolong Teas

Oolong Teas

According to Lien Hen (連橫; Taiwanese historian zh:連橫 (人名)), in the late 18 century, Ke Chao (柯朝) brought some tea tree from Fuchien, China Fuchien into Taiwan and planted in Jie Yu Keng (櫛魚坑), currently known as Ruifang District, New Taipei City. However, transaction records indicated that tea business in Muzha (木柵, Taipei 台北市) area started as early as late 18th century. Thus we can believe that tea has been merchandised in Taiwan for more than 2 centuries. In 1855, Lin Feng Chi (林鳳池) brought the Cing Shin Oolong (青心烏龍) plants from Wuyi Mountain (Fujien Province, China) (武夷山，福建，中國) into Taiwan and planted in Dongding Village (Lugu, Nantou County, Taiwan) (凍頂鄉，南投，台灣). This is said to be the origin of Dongding Oolong Dong Ding tea from Taiwan. In 1867, English tea trader Jon Dodd started a tea company in Wanhua, Taipei Taipei city (萬華，台北市), and started to sell Taiwanese oolong tea to the world under the name "Formosa Oolong", and the Pouchong oolong was considered to be more flowery than Baihao Oolong, Pouchong was exported under the name "Formosa Pouching". In fact, Dongding Oolong (凍頂烏龍茶), White Tip Oolong (白毫烏龍茶) and Pouchong Oolong (包種烏龍茶), Alpine or High Mountain Oolong, are all categorized as Oolong tea, which contributes a large part of Taiwan tea industry. As Taiwan is lucky to have great environment for tea growing, and with the developing of tea technology, Taiwan has produced many top quality teas, all can be called as "Formosa Tea". The best known ones including "Formosa Dongding oolong", "Formosa Alishan Oolong", "Formosa Wenshan Pouchong", "Formosa Oriental Beauty", "Formosa Shanlinxi Oolong", "Formosa Jade Oolong" and more.