The words cultivar and varietal are often used interchangeably (and incorrectly) around in the tea community. On this particular topic there is a ton of directly conflicting information and incorrect statements even amongst reputable sources. Knowing cultivars may seem ultra-technical and seem like impractical knowledge but it can be very useful (most importantly helping out in purchasing, understanding, and appreciating good tea). This article will examine all these issues, specifically in regards to Taiwanese teas. What is the difference between a cultivar and varietal? What constitutes a varietal? What about a cultivar? (more…)
Author: James
-
Big Red Robe Oolong [Episode 17]
James & Denny are again joined by special guest Zach to complete their three-episode series on Teavivre. Up last is the very famous, bold, pungent tea from the Wuyi Mountains, Da Hong Pao or Big Red Robe.
-
Fengqing Golden Buds 2005 Shu Pu’erh [Episode 16]
James & Denny are again joined by a guest Zach for the second episode in a three-episode series on Teavivre. Episode 16 covers their premium Ripe Pu’eh offering from 2005, Fengqing Golden Buds 2005.
-
Taiwanese Tea Vendor Guide
There are a number of vendors in the western world that offer Taiwanese Oolongs. Prices vary dramatically vendor to vendor and tea to tea (cheap, expensive) and there are even Taiwanese tea forgeries (i.e. grown in China/Thailand, harvested in a Taiwanese style and marketed as Formosa/Gaoshan Oolong). Navigating the online vendor landscape can be a difficult and often costly endeavor. This section will simply try to help you get what you pay! This article was originally intended to be part of the Taiwanese Oolong Compendium but it quickly became obvious it should be its own separate article. For those interested in a more data-driven approach to the price and finding the best deal for Taiwanese Gaoshan, check out the price of high-mountain oolong. (more…)
-
Oriental Beauty Oolong [Episode 15]
James & Denny are joined by a guest Zach for a three-episode series on the diverse selection from Teavivre. Episode 15 covers their Oriental Beauty offering.
-
Four Seasons Oolong [Episode 14]
Another Oolong from Tea from Taiwan! We move from the ultra-premium Da Yu Ling to popular Taiwanese daily drinker, Four Seasons Oolong. In episode 14, Denny and James covers this fruity, inexpensive tea.
-
The Price of High-Mountain Tea
Buying tea and shopping for deals can be confusing. The landscape of vendors is intimidating and oftentimes a simple purchase at the cheapest price can be a mistake. Complicating matters, there are no consistent quantity standards and varying shipping policies only add to the already-considerable confusion. This article will attempt to illuminate many of these issues, while specifically analyzing Gaoshan (Taiwanese) high-mountain tea by examining how tea prices vary mountain to mountain and vendor to vendor. High-mountain oolong in particular tends to command the most-demanding price/oz and oftentimes what may seem like a deal is not really a deal at all. Check out our vendor guide for a vendor by vendor breakdown of Taiwanese gaoshan specialists. Please note that high-mountain tea (>1000 meters) excludes many popular Taiwanese teas like Dong Ding, Tieguanyin, Oriental Beauty, and Baozhong (all grown at lower elevations). (more…)
-
Da Yu Ling Oolong [Episode 13]
James & Denny do a short series on some wonderful Oolongs from Tea from Taiwan. Episode 13 covers the very-famous, very-premium oolong from Taiwan, Da Yu Ling.
-
Oriental Beauty Oolong [Episode 12]
In episode 12, James & Denny engage in a longer-form podcast while drinking Floating Leaves‘ Oriental Beauty covering topics like how they drink tea, learning about tea, brewing parameters, etc.
-
Taiwanese Oolong Compendium
Taiwan has been described by Marshaln as “The Tea Shop Island” and is truly a tea lover’s heaven. Like Japan and unlike China, the standards for authentic Taiwanese tea are quite high. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all tea marketed on the internet as Taiwanese tea is extremely high quality (or even grown in Taiwan!), but that most tea acquired through reliable sources will be of reasonable quality. While green tea and black tea are also grown in Taiwan, Taiwanese Oolong is the most famous tea type coming from Taiwan. Taiwanese Oolong is also commonly referred to as Gaoshan (high-mountain tea) or Formosa (Taiwan), and you will see these names used interchangeably amongst the tea drinking community. (more…)