Oriental Beauty, also known as Bai Hao Oolong, is a distinguished tea celebrated for its unique production process and extraordinary flavor. This tea originates from Taiwan, where the interplay between the Camellia Sinensis plant and the tea jassid insect, a leaf hopper thriving at altitudes around 1300 meters, creates its distinctive taste. The tea jassid bites the leaves, triggering the plant to produce natural defenses, including monoterpene diol and hotrienol. These compounds imbue the tea with its characteristic honey, fruity, and floral notes, enhanced by hints of wild honey and tartness.
Cultivated and processed in pesticide-free gardens in Fujian, China, Oriental Beauty is an oolong tea that leans towards the darker end of the spectrum, being fermented just over 50%. The tea is known for its strong aroma and complex flavor profile, which includes fruity, woody, and spicy elements, with prominent notes of honey, flowers, and ripe peach.
Historically, Oriental Beauty gained prominence during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan in the early 20th century, when it was first exported to the West and bestowed with its name due to its exquisite appearance and flavor. Today, it continues to be revered as a tea that symbolizes the harmony between nature and agricultural practice, showcasing the beauty that can arise from the natural interactions within an ecosystem.
