Tea Education — Tea History

Why named Dong Ding (Tung Ting) oolong tea? As a saying goes, “ 北文山，南冻顶” (In the north there is Wenshan, while in the south there is Dong Ding),  it depicts the two most famous Baozhong tea in Taiwan: Wenshan Baozhong and Dong Ding oolong. Dong Ding oolong was named after Mount Dong Ding in Lugu county, Nantou town, Taiwan where the tea trees are cultivated. People might mistakenly think that Dong Ding is a high mountain that is cold and rigid due to its name by literal which is “frozen summit”, however it is actually a 700-meter high mountain with...

Tieguanyin (Chinese: 铁观音), “Iron Goddess” in literal, is a type of oolong tea that is semi-oxidized. Other spellings and names include "Ti Kuan Yin", "Tit Kwun Yum", "Ti Kwan Yin", "Iron Buddha" and "Tea of the Iron Bodhisattva". Depending on the level of oxidization, Tieguanyin can be refreshing and floral (green Anxi Tieguanyin), toasty and nutty (traditional roasted Taiwan Muzha Tieguanyin). The tea liquor varies from light golden, brown to dark brown.   There is no doubt that Tieguanyin was originated from Xiping county, Anxi, Fujian province of China. However, exactly which village in Xiping to be the origin remains to...

Wild tea trees were found in Taiwan more than three hundred years ago. There are 12 indigenous species of the Camellia genus in Taiwan, but only one of them, which is called Camellia formosensis, is suitable for preparing a beverage, while others are only used for making oil or being planted in gardens. Taiwan became known to the west as “Formosa” during Dutch period. The name “Formosa” was said to be dated back to 1542 when Portuguese mariners “discovered” this island and noted it on their maps as Ilha Formosa ("beautiful island"). The earliest literature mentioning tea trees in Taiwan...