Oriental Beauty Bai Hao oolong tea

The Oriental Beauty Bai Hao is an Oolong tea that originates from Bei Pu, Xin Zhu (Hsinchu) province situated in Northern Taiwan. This region is renowned for its exceptionally hazy and humid weather. These natural environment factors contribute majorly to the unique properties Bai Hao tea possess. What’s fascinating is that the best grade Taiwanese Oolong teas are picked in either the months of spring or winter, however the highest quality Bai Hao is harvested in the months of June and July. Following the harvest, the leaves of Bai Hao experience a greater degree of oxidation in contrast to other Taiwanese oolong teas. The tea leaves appear dark in colour, but they have silver tips, with close resemblance to Yin Zhen (white) tea. The flavour of Taiwanese Bai Hao Oolong is silky, sweet, and entirely devoid of astringency. It has a distinct aroma that is sweet and bitter-free, evoking a strong sense of ripe peaches and honey.

Many refer to Tajwan Baihao Oolong, also known as Dong Fang Mei Ren, as ‘Eastern Beauty’ The moniker was first used in the early 20th century when Queen Elizabeth II received a sample of this tea from a British tea merchant. The Queen was impressed by the distinctive aroma and flavour of Baihao. The name Baihao, meaning ‘white tip’ refers to the small, delicate white buds that are harvested alongside with the two top leaves.

To prepare, use a porcelain or glass teapot. Make sure to heat the water to somewhere between 80 – 85 °C. It may occur to you that this is lower than the typical temperature used for Oolong teas, but it’s worth experimenting with! Fill the teapot with water until it’s about two thirds full and then pour it over the tea utensils. With this preheating method, the cups and the spout are heated to the perfect temperature. Only then can you put the tea leaves into the teapot. Usually, two teaspoons of tea per 200 ml of water will do the trick. Let the tea steep for approximately 1 – 2 minutes, then pour it into the teacups. If done well, you will be able to enjoy sipping away on a robust, tasty, golden- yellow beverage.