Oriental Beauty

Tea (Camellia sinensis)Oolongstyle

Oriental Beauty, also called Dongfang Meiren or white-tip oolong, is a heavily oxidized Taiwanese oolong made using leafhopper-bitten young leaves and buds. It is associated with honey and fruit aromas.

How oriental beauty is prepared

Prepared as a leaf infusion, often with several steepings. It is commonly brewed somewhat cooler than many other oolongs.

Cold Brewing

Beverages using this technique · 2
Royal Blue Tea
Queen of Blue
Still amber0% ABV
prepared as Cold-Brewed Oriental Beauty

Royal Blue Tea uses Cold-Brewed Oriental Beauty in Queen of Blue: oriental Beauty infused in cold water.[4][5][6]

Royal Blue Tea
Queen of Blue Deluxe
Still amber0% ABV
prepared as Cold-Brewed Oriental Beauty

Royal Blue Tea uses Cold-Brewed Oriental Beauty in Queen of Blue Deluxe: oriental Beauty infused in cold water.[4][6][7]

In depth

Leafhoppers are part of the process

Small green leafhoppers feed on the young tea material before harvest. The plant’s response changes the compounds that later contribute to the tea’s honeyed and fruity aroma. This is a characteristic production relationship, rather than added honey or fruit flavouring. The tea’s name therefore describes more than a colour or a degree of roast.[1][2]

White tips and varied leaf colours

The dry tea shows a mixture of colours, including brown, red, green and pale tips. Those tips are one reason for the name white-tip oolong. Its multicoloured leaf and conspicuous tips give it a different appearance from tightly rolled green oolongs.[1][2]

Oxidation rather than a dark roast

Oriental Beauty is heavily oxidized and is described as a non-roasted, tip-type oolong. Its honeyed profile therefore differs from the toasted notes of a roasted oolong. Taiwanese tea references distinguish it from other insect-influenced oolongs, such as Guifei, which is generally more heavily roasted.[2][3]

Preparing the leaf

The tea can be steeped several times, often with cooler water than is used for many other oolongs. Successive infusions bring out different balances of fruit, honey-like aroma and sweetness. Those are tea aromas, and should not be read as an ingredient list containing honey or fruit.[2]

Part of Oolong Tea