Fujian Tea production in
Fujian is concentrated in two regions: the
Wuyi Mountains and
Anxi County,
Quanzhou. Both are major historical centers of oolong tea production in China.
Wuyi Mountains tea leaves Oolong tea leaves The most famous and expensive oolong teas are made here, and the production is still usually accredited as being organic. Some of the better known cliff teas are: •
Da Hong Pao ("Big Red Robe"): a highly prized tea and a
Si Da Ming Cong tea. This tea is also one of the two oolong varieties classed as a
famous Chinese tea. •
Shui Jin Gui ("Golden Water Turtle"): a Si Da Ming Cong tea. •
Tieluohan ("Iron Arhat"): a Si Da Ming Cong tea. •
Bai Jiguan ("White Cockscomb"): a Si Da Ming Cong tea. A light tea with light, yellowish leaves. •
Rougui ("Cassia"): a dark tea with a
spicy aroma. •
Shui Xian ("Narcissus"): a very dark tea. Much of it is grown elsewhere in Fujian.
Anxi •
Tieguanyin ("Iron Goddess of Mercy"): one of the Ten Famous Chinese Teas. •
Huangjin Gui ("Golden Cassia" or "Golden Osmanthus"): similar to Tieguanyin, with a very fragrant flavor.
Guangdong '
Single Bush Dancong
('
) ("Phoenix oolong") refers to a family of strip-style oolong teas from
Guangdong Province. They are noted for their ability to naturally imitate the flavors and fragrances of various flowers and fruits, such as orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond, ginger flower, etc. The term
dancong originally meant phoenix teas all picked from one tree. In recent times, though, it has become a generic term for all Phoenix Mountain oolongs. True dancongs are still produced, but are not common outside China.
Taiwan Tea cultivation in Taiwan began in the 18th century. Since then, many of the teas which are grown in Fujian province have also been grown in Taiwan. Since the 1970s, the tea industry in Taiwan has expanded at a rapid rate, in line with the rest of the economy. Due to high domestic demand and a strong tea culture, most Taiwanese tea is bought and consumed in Taiwan. As the weather in Taiwan is highly variable, tea quality may differ from season to season. Although the island is not particularly large, it is geographically varied, with high, steep mountains rising abruptly from low-lying coastal plains. The different weather patterns, temperatures, altitudes, and soil ultimately result in differences in the appearance, aroma, and flavour of the tea grown in Taiwan. In some mountainous areas, teas have been cultivated at ever higher elevations to produce a unique, sweet taste that fetches a premium price. • Lishan () oolong: Grown near Lishan mountain in the north-central region of Taiwan, this tea is very similar in appearance to Alishan teas. It is grown at an elevation above , with
Dayuling, and Fushou being the well known regions and teas along Lishan. •
Baozhong: the least oxidized of the oolong teas from Taiwan, with unrolled leaves of a light green to brown color. Originally grown in Fujian, it is now also widely cultivated and produced in
Pinglin Township near
Taipei. •
Ruan zhi: a light variety of oolong tea. The tea is also known as Qingxin and as # 17. It originates from Anxi in Fujian province. •
Jin Xuan: a variety of oolong tea developed in 1980. The tea is also known as "Milk Oolong" (
Nai Xiang) because of its creamy, smooth, and easy taste. Traditional milk oolong tea does not contain milk. It originates from Taiwan. • Black Oolong: may refer to a dark roasted oolong. This will have a roasted flavor similar to dark roast coffee. •
High-mountain or gaoshan: refers to several varieties of oolong tea grown in the mountains of central Taiwan. Includes varieties such as Alishan, Wu She, Li Shan and Yu Shan. •
Tieguanyin: Muzha Tea Co. brought the tea from Anxi County and developed Taiwan's own variation of the popular tea on the hills of Muzha area near Taipei. While the techniques they used were similar to Anxi tieguanyin, the tastes have evolved during over a century of development. • Sijichun Oolong: Also known as Four Seasons Oolong Tea, a beloved and popular choice in Taiwan. Originating in Maokong, Mucha, Taipei, this tea is renowned for its year-round harvest, allowing it to be cultivated across Taiwan.
Other varieties •
Darjeeling oolong:
Darjeeling tea made according to Chinese methods. •
Assam smoked oolong: Assam's tea made according to Chinese methods, and smoked over open fire. • Japanese oolongs: Japan has traditionally focused on Green tea, but more recently, there have been new developments in Japanese oolong production, though this remains a minor part of the Japanese tea market. • Vietnamese oolongs: While Vietnam is more known for its green tea, they also produce oolongs. • Apart from varieties based on origin of cultivation, new age specialty tea companies have started offering infused oolong teas. ==Preparation==