Oriental Beauty (東方美人)

tea imagery: Woman in a honey-coloured dress

Dong Fang Mei Ren, or Oriental Beauty, is a heavily oxidised Taiwanese oolong with pale, downy buds and aromas of honey and ripe fruit. Also known as Bai Hao Oolong, it is made from young shoots that small green leafhoppers have fed on.

History

The leafhopper pierces the shoot and feeds on its sap. The plant’s response and the processing that follows both contribute to the aroma. After withering and shaking, the leaves are heated, allowed to soften before rolling, then dried. Honeyed and fruity notes depend on the raw leaves as well as the maker’s work. Beipu and Emei in Hsinchu are well-known producing areas; the tea is also made in Miaoli, Taoyuan and New Taipei.

One story attributes the name to a British queen who admired the tea. Several versions circulate, so the royal connection remains a legend. Our illustration of a woman in a honey-coloured dress echoes the tea’s name and the colour of the brew.

Terroir

Northern and northwestern Taiwan, including Hsinchu and Miaoli. Garden elevations vary; this is not exclusively a high-mountain tea. Growing conditions differ between districts and individual plots. Warm weather affects leafhopper activity; summer harvests are especially well known. Ask where and when the tea was picked. Leafhopper feeding alone does not establish organic certification or the absence of pesticide residues.

Leaf

dry leaf: Loosely twisted leaves in brown, copper and greenish shades, with pale, downy buds.

aroma in a warmed vessel: A warmed vessel often brings out a sweet, honey-like aroma.

aroma after brewing: The wet leaves may suggest ripe fruit and flowers.

taste: Honey and ripe fruit are useful reference points; some batches recall peach, grapes or dried fruit. Plain Oriental Beauty has no added honey.

finish: Notice the lingering sweetness and texture. If your mouth feels noticeably dry, shorten the next steep.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: Traditional descriptions sometimes call tea “warming” or “gentle”. These words do not provide a basis for treatment or for choosing tea to suit a health condition.

What to know: The honeyed aroma is linked to the tea plant’s response to leafhopper feeding and to processing. Research into aroma compounds is distinct from evidence about health effects of drinking the tea.

Over a cup of tea: A pleasant flavour and an unhurried pace are enough for a satisfying tea break. How you feel afterwards is individual.

Caffeine: The amount depends on the leaves, dose and brewing. Sweetness and substantial oxidation cannot tell you how much caffeine is in the cup.

How to brew

A porcelain gaiwan or small teapot holding 110 ml. Start with 4 g per 110 ml at 90 °C; try 95 °C if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 30 s, 25 s, 30 s, 40 s, 60 s, 90 s.

When to drink

During the day, adjusted to your response to caffeine. Any time of year. To explore honeyed oolongs or choose a tea for dessert. Ripe peach or a plain biscuit; taste the tea on its own first. With friends over dessert or for a tasting on your own

What to notice

Take the first sip without food.
Does a honeyed aroma feel the same as sweetness on your tongue?
Return to the cup once it has cooled a little.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Oriental Beauty?

A porcelain gaiwan or small teapot holding 110 ml. Start with 4 g per 110 ml at 90 °C; try 95 °C if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 30 s, 25 s, 30 s, 40 s, 60 s, 90 s.

What does Oriental Beauty taste like?

Honey and ripe fruit are useful reference points; some batches recall peach, grapes or dried fruit. Plain Oriental Beauty has no added honey.

How much caffeine is in Oriental Beauty?

The amount depends on the leaves, dose and brewing. Sweetness and substantial oxidation cannot tell you how much caffeine is in the cup.

What else should I know about Oriental Beauty?

The honeyed aroma is linked to the tea plant’s response to leafhopper feeding and to processing. Research into aroma compounds is distinct from evidence about health effects of drinking the tea.