formosa fancy bai hao

type: oolong

origin: taiwan

region: wenshan

variety: oolong

caffeine: strong

price level: $$$$

This rare Formosa Superior Fancy Bai Hao is a true treat for the senses. The leaves are quite tippy with a fragrant bouquet when dry. Once brewed the cup is one of peach blossoms with a lingering honey note.

Bai Hao, or Oriental Beauty is a Taiwanese oolong unlike any other. Its notable reddish color gives away its high oxidation, sometimes as high as 80%. Often un-roasted, it is dried using prolonged withering process. Perhaps most interestingly, Oriental Beauty producers may even encourage an insect known as the 'leafhopper' to bite the tea leaves. The insects' saliva produces a unique chemical reaction within the leaves, the only way of achieving its distinct flavor profile.