Taiwan tea
47 Taiwan teas from 7 independent UK tea merchants, from £2.75.
Taiwan (historically Formosa) is the home of the world’s finest oolongs — partially oxidised teas that sit between green and black. High-mountain (gaoshan) oolongs from Alishan and Lishan are grown above 1,000 metres and are floral, creamy and sweet with almost no bitterness; the roasted Dong Ding and the honeyed, heavily oxidised Oriental Beauty show the style’s range. Taiwan also makes excellent black tea from Sun Moon Lake. Harvests peak in spring and winter, and the best lots are hand-rolled into tight balls. For UK buyers, a Taiwanese high-mountain oolong is one of tea’s genuine luxuries — fragrant, smooth and endlessly re-steepable. Look for the mountain and elevation on the packet.
Porterhill
The Porter Hill Tea Library
£99.00
Rare Tea Company
Taiwanese Emerald Lake Oolong
£22.00
What Cha
Taiwan Shan Lin Xi Honey Black Tea
£7.20
Teahouse Emporium
Oriental Beauty “Dong Fang Mei Ren”
£12.90
Northern Tea
Baolam Dalat Top Fancy Oolong
£7.31
Teahouse Emporium
Formosa GABA Oolong
£5.95
Rare Tea Company
GABA Taiwanese Oolong
£58.00
Porterhill
Quanzhou Milk Oolong
£5.85
Porterhill
Orange Jasmine Oolong
£5.00
Porterhill
Formosa Oolong
£7.00
Porterhill
Weaver's Blend
£4.15
What Cha
Taiwan 'Shan Lin Xi' Red Oolong Tea
£6.20
Rare Tea Company
New Zealand Waikato Green
£23.00
The Tea Makers of London
Tie Guan Yin - Loose Leaf Tea
£10.50
The Tea Makers of London
Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea
£17.50
The Tea Makers of London
Four Seasons Oolong - Teabags
£38.50
The Tea Makers of London
Four Seasons Oolong - Loose Leaf Tea
£11.50
The Tea Makers of London
Ali Shan - Loose Leaf Tea
£11.95
What Cha
Taiwan Four Seasons 'Red Pearl' Oolong Tea
£3.60
Rare Tea Company
Taiwanese Sunset Oolong
£24.00
Rare Tea Company
Taiwanese Golden Lily Milk Oolong
£21.00
What Cha
Australia Arakai Spring Green Tea
£6.30
What Cha
Australia Arakai Spring Black Tea
£6.30
What Cha
Taiwan Tarry Lapsang Souchong Black Tea
£2.75