We often hear “Oriental Beauty Tea”, “Puffing Wind Tea ” and “Wind Tea”, so what exactly are these teas? White-tip Oolong is a handpicked organic tea, with a fermentation level of 70% and is often classified as the ‘top-shelf’ oolong. It is famous for picking only “one heart and two leaves”, and is quite precious as Hsinchu Emei, Beipu, Emei, Miaosuhoulong, Touwu, and Toufen, all situated in Taiwan, are the world’s only production areas. The best picking season is from mid-May to mid-June, around the Dragon Boat Festival period.
In this article today, we will introduce the reasons why White Tip Oolong is acclaimed as the “Oriental Beauty Tea,” and why it is highly favored by the Queen of England. Additionally, we will further elaborate on the three key features, precautions, and benefits of White Tip Oolong. Without further ado, let’s begin our introduction today!
What is White-Tip Oolong?
White Tip Oolong (Oriental Beauty / Pekoe Oolong)
White-tip Oolong was originally called Puffing Tea (“Puffing” means “brag” in Taiwanese slang). The origin of the name is from a tea farmer who suffered heavy losses due to locust infestations in his tea garden, but relentlessly decided to take the risk of selling it in the city. Unexpectedly, it was very popular because of the uniqueness of the taste. After the tea farmer returned to his hometown, he mentioned this incident to his fellow villagers, but he was accused of bragging, so the name “Puffing Tea” spread.
White-tip Oolong is widely known for its unique ripe fruit aroma and sweet-honey taste. The sweet fruit aroma is produced by an insect called “Little Green Leafhopper” biting the tea leaves. If tea gardens want to attract small green leafhoppers to gather, they must not spray any insecticides.
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Like moonlight caressing the midnight sky, White-tip Oolong unveils its ethereal charm, its velvety leaves carrying the whisper of distant dreams. As the tea leaves release their tender embrace, a symphony of delicate floral and fruity notes fills the air, bestowing a moment of serenity upon tea enthusiasts.
Tea Classroom – White Tip Oolong
3 major features of White-tip Oolong:
White Tip Oolong Feature 1 – sweet taste, no astringency.
The tea leaves of White-tip Oolong are red, white, yellow, green, and brown in colour, and the tea brew is bright amber. The taste of White-tip Oolong has a ripe fruit and honey aroma, which is sweet without astringency. The main reason for the sweetness of the tea is that White-tip Oolong tea is made from young pekoe core buds, which are rich in amino acids. In addition, after re-fermentation, catechins will be oxidised, and the tea brew will taste less bitter. The natural ripe fruit aroma and honey taste of high-quality White-tip Oolong tea can immediately be felt as soon as it hits the mouth.
White Tip Oolong Feature2 – strong tea flavour, suitable for both hot and cold brewing.
When the tea is slightly cold, it can be used as a mixer for your favourite spirit, particularly brandy. After the White-tip Oolong is brewed, we can enjoy the unfolding posture of the White-tip Oolong tea. It is recommended to use a transparent glass cup to fully appreciate the visual aspect of this tea.
You can choose a lighter concentration to brew White-tip Oolong tea, so that you can taste the natural ripe fruit aroma and honey-like taste. The recommended ratio is 8-10 grams of tea for every 500c.c of water, plus or minus according to personal preference. In other words, if you want to brew a 500c.c bottle, add 8-10 grams of White-tip Oolong tea with 500c.c water at 80-90°C for about 40 to 50 seconds, with an additional 20 seconds needed for each following brew, up to 5 times.
White Tip Oolong Feature3 – deeply loved by Queen Victoria
Whilst people in Shanghai liked to mix soy milk and eggs with White-tip Oolong, Europeans on the other hand, added fresh milk, a few drops of brandy, and a little sugar with White-tip Oolong. Over a hundred years ago, White-tip Oolong tea was successfully exported to Europe and their colonised nations, eventually reaching the hands of the British Royal Family. Queen Victoria was rumoured to have described the taste and elegant appearance of the tea leaves after stretching, as echoing with the gentleness of oriental women, before naming it “Oriental Beauty”.
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3 Precautions of White-tip Oolong:
Note1:Selection of raw tea ingredients
Green leaf pest attacks are essential to White-tip Oolong tea buds, and the more severe the pest damage, the better. Among the tea tree varieties that are infested by small green leafhoppers, the pekoe oolong produced by “Chin-Shin-Dapan” is of the best quality.
Note 2: Genuine White-tip Oolong tea is only produced in “summer”
The production season of White-tip Oolong tea is primarily carried out in summer, roughly between the “Grain in Ear” and the “Great Heat” on the lunar calendar, and the quality is particularly best between the months of June and July. Under seasonal production restrictions, production area restrictions, variety restrictions, raw ingredient restrictions, along with no exceptions to hand-picked harvesting, it can rank among most within Taiwan’s industry.
Note 3: White-tip Oolong tea can only be produced by picking one top bud + the first leaf or the young buds of second unopened leaves.
It must be picked by hand, and it is better to pick the ones with hypertrophic heart buds and pekoe.
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White-Tip Oolong Benefits
White-Tip Oolong Benefit1:Inhibit blood clots
Drinking White-tip Oolongcan reduces blood viscosity, improves blood coagulation, increases blood fluidity, and improves blood circulation between arterioles and venules. Therefore, it can effectively prevent vascular disease and intravascular thrombosis.
White-Tip Oolong Benefit2 – Anti-aging
When the blood circulation lacks vitamin C, consume an appropriate amount of White-tip Oolong tea to evenly circulate blood. In previous studies, it has been proven that vitamin C has an anti-aging effect, therefore, if you wish to slow down ageing naturally, drinking oolong tea is highly recommended!
White-Tip Oolong Benefit3 – Detoxification and beauty maintenance
Drinking White-tip Oolong tea not only promotes anti-aging, but also mood enhancement, and detoxification.
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White-Tip Oolong Tea Taboos
White-Tip Oolong Tea Taboo1 – Avoid drinking on an empty stomach
Drinking pekoe oolong tea on an empty stomach will dilute stomach acid and reduce digestive function. In addition, drinking tea on an empty stomach could easily increase the pace of caffeine entering the blood, causing symptoms such as dizziness, palpitation, and weakness of hands and feet.
White-Tip Oolong Tea Taboo2 – Avoid drinking tea before going to bed
White-tip Oolong tea is rich in tea polyphenols and other elements. If you drink it before going to bed, it will easily keep you wired, making it difficult to enter sleep mode and get enough rest!
White-Tip Oolong Tea Taboo3 – Avoid drinking iced tea
Oolong tea is cold in nature, which is not suitable for the stomach, and may also cause colds. In addition, tannic acid in oolong tea will combine with protein and iron in the stomach to form indigestible sediment. If you drink too much iced tea, it will affect the absorption of protein, iron and calcium, which will aggravate the deterioration of patients with anaemia.
White-Tip Oolong Tea Taboo4 – Avoid drinking tea during special physiological periods
Because tea has the function of decomposing fat and contains a lot of tea polyphenols and caffeine, it has many unfavourable factors for the growth of foetuses, including potential cognitive impairment. Of course, the above symptoms are all possible results of excessive consumption, therefore, if you consume moderately, there is no cause for concern.
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In the moonlit garden of tea, the White Peony blossoms with elegance, its tender leaves unfurling like delicate petals to offer a dance of flavors. With each enchanting sip, a symphony of floral notes graces the palate, leaving behind a lingering essence of pure serenity.
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White-tip Oolong is known as the oriental beauty, not only appreciated by Queen Victoria, but also has many health benefits. I believe that after reading today’s article, you will have a better understanding of White-tip Oolong tea!
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