James & Denny continue their 4-episode series on Origin Tea. In episode 35, they review a Da Yu Ling 104K, from one of the highest-elevation farms in all of Taiwan. This is an extremely premium offering and like the Fu Shou Shan, this tea is minimally processed in a nuclear-green style. In this episode they also use a very unique (and powerful) method of brewing gaoshan (covered in more depth here).
Author: James
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Fu Shou Shan Origin Tea Taiwanese High-Mountain Oolong [Episode 34]
James & Denny begin a 4-episode series on Origin Tea. In episode 34, they review a Fu Shou Shan oolong, a special government tea plantation perched at one of the peaks on Lishan mountain. This tea is minimally processed in a nuclear-green style.
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All About (Taiwanese) Baozhong
Like Dong-Ding (and unlike high-mountain tea) Baozhong has a long, history in Taiwan. Baozhong (or Pouchong) literally means “wrapped kind” and refers to the way the tea was traditionally packaged in paper. Grown at a measly 400-800 meters elevation in Northern Taiwan, Baozhong is a low-elevation tea (typically from Wenshan or Pinglin). It is also not rolled, an important distinction from the majority of Taiwanese oolongs. Even though it is marketed and consumed to the western market as a Taiwanese tea, Baozhong is originally a mainland tea and is still produced in Fujian, China. The history of Baozhong is very similar to Tieguanyin and Fo Shou; All three are originally from China and were brought over to Taiwan in the late 19th century. Each of these teas has evolved and changed separately in Taiwan and are now very different from their Chinese cousins. (more…)
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1997 Fuhai Shu Pu’erh [Episode 33]
In episode 33, James & Denny review an older 1997 Ripe Pu’erh from Chinese tea factory Fuhai (Lucky Star). Fuhai split off from Dayi in the late 1990s.
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Shan Li Xi Hung Shui 2011 Teamasters Taiwanese High-Mountain Oolong [Episode 32]
In episode 32, James & Denny review a unique 2011 Hung Shui oolong cultivated from the Shan Li Xi growing region. Acquired via Teamasters, this tea is a new experience for both Denny and James.
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GREEN!!! The Downward Trend of the Dark Taiwanese Oolong
The western world tends to view Asian tea culture as classical and rigidly traditional. While this can be true for certain geographical regions or rituals i.e. Japanese tea ceremony; much of this idea should be discarded for the ever-changing Chinese and Taiwanese tea. Since the first tea bushes were planted on Taiwan, Taiwanese tea has been extremely dynamic with dramatic changes in style. Some of this has included clever experimentation (Gui Fei Mei Ren) but most if not all can be viewed through the lense of economics and history. (more…)
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Oriental Beauty Teamasters Taiwanese Oolong [Episode 31]
James & Denny review another tea from Teamasters, a premium and immaculate Oriental Beauty. With a wonderful silky texture and characteristic sweet, honey notes this is a very nice tea.
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Shan Li Xi Teamasters Taiwanese High-Mountain Oolong [Episode 30]
James & Denny review a high-mountain tea from the Shan Li Xi growing region in Taiwan. Acquired via Teamasters, this tea is characteristic of Taiwanese high-mountain oolongs low-oxidation and very fresh.
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Teamasters, Featured Vendor
The vendor profile for Teamasters is a part of our Taiwanese Tea Vendor Series, covering a number of Taiwanese-tea specialized vendors that sell to the west.
Based in Taiwan, a French ex-patriate Stephane Erler founded and runs Teamasters. Now one of the oldest online vendors and tea bloggers Teamasters was originally conceived as a tea blog in 2004. Stephane has been steadily consistent throughout the years in creating new content (his output now totals over 1,500 blog posts!). The Teamasters blog has been immensely helpful in my own personal tea education as well as the creation of this site! Now Stephane in addition to his day-job as a western-facing vendor is regularly invited to events around the globe to speak about tea topics and Taiwanese oolongs. (more…)
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Hwangcha Morning Crane Korean Green Tea [Episode 29]
James & Denny complete their two-episode series on Korean tea acquired from Morning Crane Tea. From the Hadong growing region they review a Hwangcha (Yellow Tea) from an artisan tea producer via Morning Crane tea. Rich, delicious, silky, and smooth. This tea can be purchased in the western world from Arthur at Morning Crane Tea.