Imperial Formosa oolong tea is one of many finest oolong teas you can get, provided that it’s stated in a good tea garden that takes great care in how a tea is harvested and processed. To choose the best Imperial Formosa oolong tea, it’s important to understand some reasons for this tea and how it’s harvested and produced.
Oolong tea is a hybrid of green and black tea. It is produced from exactly the same plant as other teas, but processed a bit differently. Green tea is left unfermented, black tea is fully fermented and oolong tea is semi-fermented, meaning that the fermentation time is shorter than that of other teas, so some percentage of the tea leaves are left green. This partial fermentation creates a tea that is lighter than black tea, but bolder and more flavorful than green tea. Depending upon the length of time the tea artisan allows the leaves to ferment, or oxidize, the tea might be closer to the flavor of a green tea extract or closer to the flavor of a black tea. In addition, oolong tea is produced from larger tea leaves, those that grow further down the tea plant.
Imperial Formosa oolong tea is produced only in Taiwan. Teas from Taiwan are called Formosa teas because this was the country’s original name. Many people think of China as where oolong teas are produced, and, actually, China does produce the biggest quantity of oolong tea today. However, Taiwan runs a close second, and their oolong teas are believed some of the finest in the world. In accordance with historical book reports, tea bushes had been found growing in the wild of Taiwan about 3 hundred years ago. 茶葉批發香港 Tea varieties were introduced in Taiwan about two hundred years ago by immigrants from China and a fresh industry was born.
Imperial Formosa oolong tea is fermented until the leaves are about 30% oxidized. Timing the oxidation period is a critical part of developing a good oolong tea. To produce exactly the same flavor every time, the artisan must appropriately bruise the leaves and then see that the oxidation happens precisely. Producing oolong tea is a labor intensive process that cannot be effectively managed with machines and other mass production processes.
Because of this, fewer tea gardens produce oolong than other teas. Producing the utmost effective oolong requires strict adherence to the process and timing along with skilled tea artisans who are able to determine exactly once the tea leaves are appropriately dried and when they’re appropriately fermented. Because of this, oolong teas are often higher priced than black and green teas. Formosa oolong teas are usually the absolute most expensive oolong teas because labor costs in Taiwan are higher than those in other countries.
Like black and green teas, the flavor of oolong teas will also be afflicted with once the leaves are plucked. The very first teas plucked during the summer season will be the spring teas, also known as first flush teas. They are generally the absolute most highly prized tea leaves of the season. Although the tea plant is likely to be harvested several more times before the end of the summertime, typically the tea from these subsequent pluckings won’t rival the first plucked tea in flavor. That is primarily because tea leaves grown later in the summer season are at the mercy of hotter weather and often become baked in the sun before they’re even plucked. Exactly the same rules apply to many oolong teas. In most cases, the first flush of oolong will have the best taste. You’ll typically find Imperial Formosa oolong tea produced from the first plucking of the season.
The best tea gardens, can, however, make good tea from each flush of the growing season, though many tea connoisseurs will always favor first flush teas. This exceptional flavor and smaller availability make first flush oolong teas the absolute most expensive of the growing season, too.
The best tea gardens label their teas not only by the grade of the tea leaves, but based on which plucking they certainly were produced from. Some tea gardens don’t even pluck significantly more than twice a season, believing that the caliber of the tea is not sufficient after the 2nd plucking.
In most cases Imperial Formosa oolong tea would have been a first flush tea and is likely to be graded Finest to Choice, the greatest grade of Formosa teas. Few tea gardens produce Imperial Formosa oolong, and most can be counted on to produce good quality tea.
Still as a client, you should make certain that you’re getting everything you pay for. The simplest way to achieve this is to get your teas only from the best tea shops, whether in your local area or by shopping for tea online. Often choosing tea shops that offer a smaller collection of teas helps ensure that you are buying tea that is of excellent quality. These tea shops are careful about what they purchase, and work with just a some of the best tea gardens in the world. Their selection might be smaller, but you understand it is a hand picked collection of the best quality.
Don’t assume all tea shop will have Imperial Formosa oolong tea, since it is one of many rarest teas, grown by just a few gardens. When you will find this tea, and can find it from a tea merchant who is committed to selling only the greatest quality of teas, you can be assured that you’re investing in a tea which will be delicious and satisfying.