This issue introduces the basics of oolong tea, a representative of Chinese tea, evolved from the Song Dynasty tribute tea dragon tuan phoenix cake, created in 1725 during the Qing Yongzheng period. There are picking, withering, shaking green, stir-frying, kneading, baking and other processes, belongs to a semi-fermented tea, the degree of fermentation between 10 and 70 percent, divided into light fermentation, moderate fermentation and heavy fermentation, due to the fermentation range span is very large, as long as the degree of fermentation slightly changed, there will be a completely different flavor.
Oolong tea is between black tea and green tea, both the fragrance of green tea, and the mellowness of black tea, green leaf red trim is its biggest feature. But in fact, oolong tea (green tea) is only a general term, and many different types of tea can be subdivided, such as Tieguanyin, Daffodil, Golden Gui, Benshan, Hairy Crab, Wuyi Rock Tea, Frozen Top Oolong, Cinnamon, Qilan, Phoenix Single Bush, Song Species, etc. Commercially, it is customary to divide them into four categories according to the different production areas, northern Fujian oolong, southern Fujian oolong, Guangdong oolong and Taiwan oolong, each tea area has its own obvious characteristics, and then we look at the differences of the four major types of oolong tea.
The first is Guangdong Oolong, represented by Chaozhou's phoenix single bush and Lingtou single bush, tasting needs to experience the rich floral fragrance of the tea itself and the rhyme of the bush, mountain rhyme, single bush has always been known for its rich fragrance, mainly ten major fragrances, namely honey orchid incense, zhilan incense, yellow branch incense, osmanthus fragrance, almond incense, magnolia incense, cinnamon incense, ginger flower fragrance, jasmine incense, night incense. In addition, there are varieties and strains such as grapefruit, orange blossom, zizixiang and yellow tea, which are classified according to the aroma type of tea is the most common classification method of Phoenix single bush at present. Take the more common honey orchid incense as an example, the appearance of the cord is tightly knotted brown, the tea soup is yellow and bright, the aroma is very high, the good quality of the incense is dissolved in water, the feeling brought to the mouth is also full of teeth and fragrant, the taste is mellow, and the back to Ganshengjin is very long-lasting, cong rhyme and mountain rhyme are obvious, so the phoenix single bush is also called a perfume that can be drunk. In addition, the phoenix single cluster is divided into large-leaf species, medium-leaf species and small-leaf species according to the size of the leaves; according to its leaf color, it is divided into dark leaves, red leaves and white leaves; and according to its picking period, it is divided into extra-early bud species, early bud species, medium bud species and late bud species.
Taiwan oolong is mostly produced in Nantou, Taiwan, Hsinchu and other places, oolong tea inside the fermentation of the lightest and heaviest tea in Taiwan, according to its degree of fermentation, can be divided into baozhong tea, alpine oolong and pekoe oolong. Baozhong tea, represented by Wenshan Baozhuang, is the lightest fermentation of all oolong teas, and it is particularly like green tea when drunk. Pekoe Oolong has a relatively heavy degree of fermentation, has a natural ripe fruit aroma, with some characteristics of black tea. Alpine oolong includes Alishan oolong, Lishan oolong and Dayuling oolong, etc., generally according to the level of altitude to distinguish, to Pear Mountain Oolong as an example, dry tea is hemispherical, tightly knotted, heavy, the color is dark green, the aroma is more typical of the light and sweet fragrance, the bottom of the cup has a faint milk honey fragrance, the tea soup appears honey green light yellow, taste mellow, smooth and soft and resistant to brewing, the throat will have a cool feeling, is a kind of alpine cold charm unique to Taiwan oolong.
Below we talk about the oolong tea produced in southern Fujian, with Tieguanyin being the most famous, in addition to Yongchun Bergamot, Zhangping Daffodil, Golden Gui, etc., Minnan Oolong belongs to the type of aroma is relatively quiet, showing the characteristics of fragrance and elegance, taking the common fragrance type Tieguanyin as an example, dry tea color is more sand green is light and dark characteristics, tight and heavy, a bit like dragonfly head or frog legs. After brewing, the tea soup is clear, has a clear orchid fragrance, is relatively long, tastes sweet and moist, and has a unique Guanyin rhyme.
Northern Fujian Oolong is produced in the Wuyi Mountains in northern Fujian, rock tea is the main representative of it, because of the unique charcoal roasting process and mountain environment, so that the tea set has the obvious characteristics of rock bone flower fragrance, the two major varieties are the incense we often hear but cinnamon, alcohol but daffodils. In addition, there are four famous fir big red robes, iron luohan, white chicken crown and water golden turtle, which will also be talked about separately later.
Wuyi Mountain central area of the production of tea is called Zhengyan tea, its quality, high fragrance, mellow taste, rock rhyme is particularly prominent, Wuyi Rock edge of the tea produced tea called half rock tea, its rock rhyme is slightly inferior to The Rock Tea, close to the Wuyi Mountain on both sides of the tea is called Zhou Tea, its quality is a low level, Wuyi Rock Tea's quality is characterized by a strong knot, the color of blue brown oil is bright, the leaf bottom leaf surface has sand grain points called clam back, after brewing, the aroma is rich and eternal, with a special rock rhyme, strong taste, fresh and refreshing.
Based on the above classification, we have to sigh that the category of oolong tea is indeed many, the taste aroma changes endlessly, its rich taste level and elegant and long aroma, but also indeed conquered many tea friends, very attractive for exploration, is the most difficult to learn and understand of all teas, if you are interested in a more in-depth research system, pay attention to me.