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How To Use A Professional Tea Judging Set
The Professional Tea Judging Set is essential teaware for being able to assess whole leaf tea efficiently and thoroughly. Let's take a look at what's included, and how it can be used to enhance your experience and understanding of tea. Continue readingMuzha Tie Guan Yin Oolong
We just recently put our spring 2023 batch of Tie Guan Yin Oolong on the shelf. We purposely allowed it to rest for more than four months before packaging it up to put in the store. This allows the roast to settle and mellow, bringing forth a more complex and refined flavor profile. We are always impressed at how this tea brews a luminescent rich copper-toned brew — portraying the skill and finesse of how it was roasted several times for a total of about 50 hours. Continue readingShan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea | Fall 2023
Although there was a light, wispy fog up at the tea garden by 10 a.m. on the day of harvest, the leaves were transported down the mountain — from 1500m on the farm to about 700m elevation at the factory. It was a warm and sunny day in the village where the leaves were processed, offering optimal withering conditions. The character of the brewed tea is a classic fall batch — not overly fragrant, but substantial in both its aromatic and flavor profile. A smooth, balanced brew that results from tender leaf material and skillful processing. Continue readingAlishan High Mountain Jin Xuan Oolong Tea Fall 2023
Alishan High Mountain Jin Xuan Oolong was the first of three different types of tea we cupped last week on our fall 2023 sourcing trip to Alishan Tea Country. Of the three batches of Alishan Jin Xuan being brewed above, we chose the one with the most pronounced buttery/creamy note that is characteristic of the Jin Xuan/Tai Cha #12 cultivar — also known as "milk oolong". This batch was also the most oxidized — resulting in a full bodied, balanced brew. Continue readingAlishan High Mountain Oolong Tea Fall 2023
It was quite the tea cupping when we visited our source of both Alishan and Li Shan High Mountain Oolong to taste the recent fall harvest. We cupped three different types of tea overall, drinking tea for about three hours straight! But for now, we'll focus on Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea — fall harvest. Continue readingGhost Festival in Taiwan: A Spectacular Display of Customs and Traditions
Taiwan, a land of vibrant culture and rich traditions, is no stranger to unique customs and celebrations. One such captivating event is the Ghost Festival, known as 中元節 (Zhongyuan Festival), which takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. This month-long celebration culminates on the 15th day when the gates of hell are believed to be thrown open, allowing restless spirits to roam freely on the earthly plane. Continue readingShan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea Summer 2023
The tea garden that produced our summer 2023 batch of Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong is an especially foresty plot of tea — especially in its current state! The owner of this plot of tea initially planted a lot of trees that have grown to nearly full size. The tea trees themselves have also been allowed to grow taller than usual, and were not trimmed after spring harvest.
Continue readingAlishan High Mountain Oolong Summer 2023
We are excited to present a fine batch of Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea — summer 2023! Taiwan has had much better weather during the second flush growing season, following drought conditions in early spring. And the weather during summer harvest has been auspiciously sunny! Continue readingLi Shan High Mountain Oolong Spring Tea 2023
Spring harvest of Li Shan High Mountain Oolong Tea produced better results than perhaps anywhere else on Taiwan this year. This is due to the fact that the Li Shan tea producing region is at the highest elevation, making it the latest harvest in spring and the earliest harvest in winter. Continue readingTraditional Dong Ding Oolong Spring 2023
We snapped the photo above as we finally sat down after our work was done, and watched the sun rise over the ridge below Phoenix Mountain in Lugu, Taiwan. The third and final shift of processing the spring crop of Traditional Dong Ding Oolong Tea began at midnight and was completed as the sun rose. Continue readingAlishan High Mountain Oolong Spring Tea 2023
Our Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea is cultivated on a residential farm, run by a husband and wife team, with their own factory, and surrounded by forest. This couple is most closely aligned with Eco-Cha's premise of sustainability in their farming and tea production practice. We are excited to put their Oolong Tea back on our menu this spring!
Continue readingOolong Tea Roasted Over 3 Weeks vs. 3 Years
What's the difference between an Oolong tea that's been roasted for over three weeks versus one roasted over three years? We did a taste test of two of our roasted Taiwanese teas to find out! Continue reading to find out what we discovered! Continue readingQing Ming Festival Weather Update
Normally, this holiday also marks the beginning of spring harvest in central Taiwan's largest tea producing regions. Due to the lack of rain thus far in 2023, the spring tea growing season has been delayed. The tea growing areas in northern Taiwan seem to be getting enough rain however, and spring harvest is on schedule for Sanxia's Bi Luo Chun, Pinglin's Wenshan Baozhong, and Muzha's Tie Guan Yin Oolong.
Continue readingEco-Cha Tea Club: Your Specialty Taiwanese Tea Source
The Eco-Cha Tea Club is not just about the rare batches of specialty tea we find and share. It's an ongoing story of Taiwan's tea culture and professional tea industry. The blogs we publish with each batch of tea, along with a tasting video, tell the story of where the tea was grown, the terroir, the tea makers, and more. The Tea Club offers tea lovers around the world an ongoing education and virtual tour of the world of Taiwanese tea. Continue readingTea Friends In Taiwan | Eco-Cha Teas
Yesterday, while drinking tea in the home of our source of Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Tea in Lugu, we came up with a plan for an outing the following day. We called our friends who produce our Eco-Farmed High Mountain Oolong Tea, to ask if we could visit for tea the following day. They readily welcomed us, suggesting that we have a soak in their family-owned hot spring along the way. We thought that was a splendid idea!
Continue readingInnovative Ways to Use Oolong Tea in Your Cocktails and Kitchen | Eco-Cha Teas
Oolong tea is known for its rich, complex flavors, and aromas, and it is increasingly being used in cocktails and other creative recipes. If you are a fan of Oolong tea and are looking for new and interesting ways to enjoy it, here are some ideas for incorporating it into your culinary experience.
Continue readingRoasted Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Fall 2022 | Eco-Cha Teas
The above garden is our ongoing source of Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong. In July of last year, we began offering a roasted version of our all-time favorite High Mountain Oolong in our limited edition tea series. Read the blogpost here. We initially shared that batch of tea with the Eco-Cha Tea Club, then offered the remaining amount as a limited edition. Continue readingTop 10 Most Popular Taiwanese Teas in 2022 | Eco-Cha Teas
In 2022, our most popular teas represented a diverse selection that showcase the range of flavors and aromas available within the world of Taiwanese Tea. From heavy roast oolongs to a light green tea, there is something for every tea lover in this list. Read on to see what were our top 10 most popular teas for 2022! Continue readingLi Shan High Mountain Oolong Winter 2022 | Eco-Cha Teas
The photo above shows all three Li Shan High Mountain Oolong harvests of 2022. Our spring batch is on the left, late summer in the middle, and winter on the right. It was an educational as much as an enjoyable experience to brew each of our Li Shan 2022 batches side by side. Tasting each one brought to mind the growing seasons and harvest conditions of each, and simultaneously brewing them distinguished their differences. Continue readingBi Luo Chun and Baozhong Winter 2022 | Eco-Cha Teas
We procured our winter 2022 batches of Sanxia Bi Luo Chun and Wenshan Baozhong Teas at about the same time. Since these teas are produced in close geographical proximity, and share a deep cultural history, we decided to brew them simultaneously to offer a perspective on how they compare and contrast with each other. Continue readingHigh Mountain Oolong Summer/Fall Harvests 2022 | Eco-Cha Teas
Taiwan High Mountain Oolong Teas are typically harvested 3 or 4 times a year. Between the most popular spring and winter harvests, there are usually summer and/or fall crops. In recent years, we've been dedicated to sourcing these "in between" harvests as much as possible. We do this for two reasons. Continue readingTaiwan Oolong Tea vs. Coffee: Which Has Less Caffeine?
Many people start their day with a cup of coffee or tea. Most folks do this for the instant jolt of energy that caffeine brings. Caffeine is a great for a quick pick up, but too much can be bad for you. Looking for the drink with a little less caffeine? In this article, we compare Taiwan Oolong teas with coffee to see which has less caffeine. Continue readingLimited Edition Tea Series | Eco-Cha Teas
We proudly announce our Limited Edition series of Eco-Cha Teas! This exclusive selection is comprised of teas that are both top quality and limited in supply. Some are teas that we've offered previously and some are new additions to our in-store menu. All of them represent Taiwan's tea culture and world class professionalism.
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