The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| Oolong - China's Most Revered Tea |
| Wulong Cha, the original name given to oolong tea has been highly prized in China for centuries (China's oolong teas also go by Blue Teas, and Ching Cha). Wulong translates to Dark or Black Dragon, once the title given to the large, bulky tea leaves from the Wuyi Shan region of China located in Fujian Province. |
| Wuyi Shan is the original home of Chinese oolongs. Each of the famous teas are named after the subspecies of bush from which the leaf is plucked, and unlike green teas that begin production in early March, oolong teas start in May, giving the larger leaves time for sufficient growth. The Wuyi Shan in northwestern Fujian is a rocky area with winding rivers, lush vegetation and steep roads hugging the mountainside. Found high atop the rocky limestone peaks and sheer cliffs are "rock" or "cliff" teas, named so because of the thin layer of rocky soil in which they grow. Heavily shaded atop the peaks by clouds and mist, the tea bushes grow with only a few hours of sunlight each day. |
| Although the conditions are harsh, the rock teas thrive, growing amid rocks and crumbling limestone cliffs that provide the tea plants with plenty of vital nutrients and minerals, forming the basis of the unique flavor profile rock or cliff oolongs are famous for, and why they are considered to be some of the healthiest teas to drink, associated with health and vitality for a thousand years or more. Together with clean, healthy air, and crisp, cool, pure mountain water, Wuyi Shan provides a unique growing condition, producing tea virtually impossible to copy or duplicate anywhere else in the world. The Wuyi Shan region has gone untouched for centuries, and because the area is small - 35 to 40 square miles, tea production can't increase, making the tea produced there precious and rare. Indeed, demand far exceeds supply for the spectacular Wuyi Shan rock or cliff oolong teas. The rock teas grown within the Wuyi Shan origin-specific region are called Ming Yan teas, while those teas grown outside the designated region are called Dan Yan teas. Oolong teas are partially oxidized, anywhere from 10% to 80%, depending on the style and preferences of the region where it's produced. With such a broad range of oxidation, the number of styles and flavors is vast, which is one of the draws of oolongs. The lighter, less oxidized oolongs are more contemporary in style and tend toward the sweeter and fruitier flavors, while the more traditional method of roasting is more heavily oxidized, richer and toastier, bringing out the deeper flavor profile. Fujian Province is divided into a northern and southern region. Northern Fujian or Min Bei produces oolongs which can be flat leaf styles, open leaf, twisted leaf, or slightly folded leaf styles, and Si Da Ming Cong - Wuyi Shan rock cliff oolongs. These Si Da Ming Cong oolong teas are made from the four most famous Camellia sinensis bush varietals in the Wuyi Shan. The bushes are single-trunk oolongs with one central trunk with just a few branches that bear a smaller quantity of leaves, versus the smaller, many branched bushes bearing a large quantity of smaller leaves. Some examples are:
From southern Fujian Province or Min Nan, comes Anxi Se Zhong and Anxi Tieguanyin, two very different types of oolong teas produced in the Anxi region, each with its own unique style. Se Zhong refers to teas which are blended using the leaves of various types of local tea bushes. Some of the popular Se Zhong oolongs are Se Zhong Mao Xie (or Hairy Crab), so named because of the fine hairs that grow on the backside of the leaves, which look like the stiff white hairs on the local freshwater crabs, known as "hairy crabs." Coincidentally, the last fall plucking of Hairy Crab oolong tea, coincides with the beloved Chinese hairy crabs, coming to market. Tou Tian Xiang (or Imperial Gold) is a ball-shaped, rolled oolong, a bit more oxidized than Hairy Crab, but still light and floral. Its name means "fragrance throughout the sky," and its fragrance of ripe melon, lilies, and honey rings true to its name. Some other Se Zhong oolongs are: Huang Jing Gui (or Golden Osmanthus), Qi Lan (or Orchid Oolong), and Se Zhong Shui Xian or Shui Xian (also called Water Sprite). |
| Anxi Tieguanyin is one of China's most famous teas and a perfect example of what a Chinese oolong should be. Tieguanyin is made from tea bush cultivars that are local to Anxi. There are three main styles of Tieguanyin oolong: 1. Clear and fragrant Tieguanyin - fired at a lower temperature for less time, resulting in a mild flavored, fragrant tea reminiscent of orchids (lan). 2. Traditional Tieguanyin - darker, richer, and toasty with what the Chinese call gan - sweetness, with no bitterness or astringency. 3. Wild Tieguanyin - plucked from wild tea plants growing on rocky hillsides in and near the village of Xiping, it is fruity and aromatic. Tieguanyin or Tea of the Iron Goddess of Mercy (also known as Red Heart Goddess) is a Chinese legend named after Kuan Yin or Guan Yin, the only female deity, known as the Goddess of Mercy and believed to be the female incarnation of the many-armed compassion Buddha, Avalokitesvara. Silver Leaf Tea carries two fine examples of Tieguanyin (called Ti Kwan Yin #3 and Ti Kwan Yin Flowery #1). Both have the traditional aromatic taste, with Ti Kwan Yin Flowery #1 an added floral, fruity aroma. Guandong Province, the modern day name for Canton, is home to Fenghuang Dan Cong (Phoenix Oolong), also known as Fonghuang Tan-Chung. This oolong is made from large single leaves and classified as a single trunk oolong. Once an imperial tribute tea, it is now classified as one of China's Famous Teas. It's a refreshingly sweet and complex oolong, with tiny white Yulan blossoms sometimes used to scent the tea. Some other rock oolongs you might enjoy if you run across them are:
Don't forget to stop by and visit our page on the processing of oolong tea and how it is made. And to learn more about teas from China, visit our Teas of China, and Black Teas of China, and Green Teas of China. Enjoy. |
| For more information and to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: Which teas are grown in China? Learn which types of tea come from China and take a close-up look at individual teas, their qualities, growing seasons, and which are available both in and outside of the U.S. Which yellow teas are grown in China? Learn about China's yellow teas and why they are close to green teas in many ways, but one special step makes them special. Also which yellow teas can be found in and outside of the U.S. How is green tea made? Learn about the unique manufacturing process for green tea, keeping it in its near natural state, and preserving the flavor, vitamins, minerals and important antioxidants. Shou pu-erh - the faster aging pu-erh tea. How faster aging Shou pu-erh is made, and the difference between Shou pu-erh and its longer aging counterpart, Sheng pu-erh. China's white teas-traditional Fujian budset white teas and new style white teas. Learn all about China's white teas, the styles, growing season, climate, and availability. Also learn the difference between China's traditional Fujian budset white tea and new style white tea. |
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