“House Blend” Sanxia Oriental Beauty | oolong tea

Oriental Beauty is one of Taiwan’s most distinctive oolong teas, known for its natural honeyed fragrance, ripe fruit character, and delicate white-tipped buds. A popular story tells of a British queen who was so charmed by the tea’s fragrance and the graceful appearance of its leaves that she named it “Oriental Beauty.” Although the tale remains unverified, it adds a romantic chapter to the tea’s reputation. In Taiwan, it is also known as Bai Hao Oolong, or “white tip oolong,” a name that refers to the fine silvery hairs on its tender buds.

This tea comes from the hills of Sanxia in northern Taiwan, a region particularly associated with Bi Luo Chun green tea. It is made from Qing Xin Da Mou, a traditional cultivar especially valued for Oriental Beauty. Tender shoots visited by leafhoppers develop the aromatic potential that careful withering and substantial oxidation transform into the tea’s characteristic honey and fruit notes.

For this House Blend, two batches produced on consecutive days in early September 2025 were brought together by Chen Yuwen. Made by a local tea-making family to her specifications, the two lots were blended to create a balanced expression of Sanxia Oriental Beauty, with an emphasis on silky texture and lively fruit.

The cup is smooth and gently honeyed, with a refreshing citrus brightness and the rounded sweetness of ripe tropical fruit. A delicate nutty note emerges in the finish, adding depth to the soft, flowing texture. Its fruitiness remains fresh and expressive, making this a graceful tea to explore over several infusions.

Profile: Honeyed sweetness, bright citrus, ripe tropical fruit, delicate nutty finish
Origin: Sanxia, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Elevation: 600 m
Harvest: September 2025
Blended by: Chen Yuwen
Cultivar: Qing Xin Da Mou
Oxidation: Medium-high
Picking: Hand-picked
Brewing suggestion: 90–95 °C | 5 g per 100 ml | 30–45 s for the first infusion, adjusting subsequent infusions to taste