For Christmas, my friend Li gave me a can of Tung Ting Oolong Tea (also known as Jade Oolong) by Ten Ren. It was my introduction to green oolong teas – oolongs which have received very little oxidation.

Tung Ting Mountain is located in central Taiwan, rising about 760 metres (2500 feet) above sea level. This is a dedicated tea region: out of a population of 20,000, 12,000 are tea farmers. If you ever get a chance to visit the Tung Ting region, drop by the town of Luku at the base of the mountain, and visit the Tea Culture Museum at the Luku Farmers Association. During spring, you can also celebrate the annual tea festival, where the tea farmers from the region compete in a tea-tasting competition.

Ten Ren’s Tung Ting is rolled into balls and has a lovely aroma: fruity with a subtle floral note. Unlike darker oolongs, which have a smokey flavour and an amber appearance, green oolongs are much lighter in colour and don’t exhibit any smokiness. My wife, who isn’t a fan of darker oolongs, quite enjoyed the Tung Ting oolong. Needless to say, so did I.

Of steepings, there were plenty. I had six excellent cups from the same leaves and I probably could have had more. Oolong teas only need to be brewed for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, and I’m sure I allowed it to steep a little too long once or twice.

Given that this was my first experience with green oolong tea, I can’t comment on how Ten Ren’s Tung Ting compares to other Tung Ting’s available, such as Adagio’s Jade Oolong tea. As a type of tea, however, I can strongly recommend it for tea drinkers who love a light, slightly sweet tea with a delicious floral scent. If you’ve never tried oolong, but you enjoy green teas, I think you’ll find tung ting oolong a pleasant change.

Credit: Some of the information for this post was found in The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, a book which I strongly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about the world of tea.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Tung Ting Jade Oolong Tea by Ten Ren (Review) | 4 comments |
Post categories: Oolong tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: formosan teas, ten ren, tung ting jade oolong