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Comments(0) Types of Tea in Taiwan
- Oolong Tea
- Green Tea
- Black Tea
- Pu Er Tea
For some background, I found a good little site that summarizes quite nicely the ‘tea culture’ of Taiwan, but I’ll begin by documenting my own experience. When I arrived in Taiwan almost ten years ago, I would have told you I knew what tea was. I didn’t. There is a whole world to tea, and making really good tea is an art. A few years back, I was sitting in a tea vendor’s shop sampling a few different varieties, and the shopkeeper said to me, with a twinkle in his eye, “Try this one…” I couldn’t believe how new and novel the flavour was, and it left my palate tingling. Good tea does that. Now, I enjoy all varieties: green, Oolong, black and Pu-Er 茶 (or cha – rising intonation), depending on the mood, occasion or time of day. Tea varieties are produced in a slightly different ways giving each its own distinct flavour and aroma.
Discovery of Tea
Tea was reportedly discovered accidently by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. He was boiling water at the time and he inadvertently let some leaves of the nearby shrubbery fall into the pot. Upon sampling the infusion, he reportedly loved it so much, he made it again and again, bestowing on future generations and cultures around the globe this important staple caffeine supply.
Production
In Taiwan, black and, to a lesser extent, green teas are considered inferior to the local ‘high mountain’ oolong varieties. (Taiwan is ideal for growing tea with lots of high elevation, mountainous areas.) Even among these, there are seasonal varieties, of which “spring tea”, being more fragrant, is the crown jewel. Green tea is air-dried and pan-fried to arrest the oxidation process, whereas Oolong tea is sun-dried and allowed to ferment somewhat. Black tea has a rich flavour due to a longer fermentation process (see the image below)
Here’s a link with some background:
| Caffeine Amounts per 8oz Serving | |
| Green | 8 – 36 mg |
| Black | 25-110 mg |
| Oolong | 12-55 mg |
Black Tea Leaves
Oolong Tea Leaves
A Black (Assam) Tea Farm near Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
My Little Tea Set
Tea is made in these little pots and sipped in very small cups. You refill the pot frequently.
The Process of Making Black Tea
This is a very old, historical tea factory.
These are the machines that chop up the leaves, I think. I believe they are antiques.
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