Formosa Classics Taster Pack

• Teas Included (10g each):

  • Unroasted Dong Ding Oolong - 10g

  • Jin Xuan Oolong (Milky Oolong) - 10g

  • Sun Moon Lake Ruby Black Tea - 10g

• Total Weight: 30g

• Price: €14.8

• Description: Dive into Taiwan’s tea heritage with this classic selection. Enjoy the floral elegance of Floral Dong Ding Oolong, creamy richness of Jin Xuan Oolong, and bold, malty depth of Sun Moon Lake Ruby Black Tea. Perfect for newcomers or lovers of authentic, unflavored teas.

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Unroasted Dong Ding Oolong

Origin: Lugu, Nantou, Taiwan

Altitude: 900–1100 meters

Oxidation: 15-30%

Cultivar: Qing Xin Oolong (青心烏龍)

Harvest: Spring 2025

This Dong Ding Oolong is a tea steeped in history, its name derived from the legendary peak where it grows. While many believe "Dong Ding" to be a brand, it is in fact the name of a mountain in Lugu, Nantou. Its name has a fascinating origin in the local Taiwanese dialect: "Dong" (凍) refers to the verb for raking the soil with one's toes, while "Ding" (頂) means mountain peak. This name came from the treacherous, slippery paths of the mountain; farmers had to rely on their toes to grip the soil, moving step by step to reach the top. This unique terroir has made it the birthplace and a classic symbol of Taiwanese oolong tea.

A benchmark for quality, Dong Ding Oolong's defining features include a mellow, full-bodied mouthfeel, excellent durability for multiple infusions, and a rich, long-lasting aftertaste. The creation of this tea is a complex, time-honored process, requiring a meticulous chain of steps: picking, withering, tossing, pan-firing, rolling, and packaging. Each stage demands exceptional skill and unwavering care from the tea master, a testament to the artisan's dedication. When brewed, the tea liquor is a brilliantly clear golden yellow, releasing a pure, clean aroma.

Flavor Notes

• Aroma: Elegant floral notes (osmanthus, lily)
• Taste: Smooth and rounded, with a subtle fruity sweetness
• Finish: A refreshing, cooling sensation with a long-lasting, pleasant aftertaste.

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Jin Xuan Oolong (Milky Oolong)

Origin: Sung Po Ling, Nantou, Taiwan

Altitude: 500 meters

Oxidation: 15-30%

Cultivar: Jin Xuan (TTES No. 12)

Harvest: Spring 2025

The story of our Jin Xuan Oolong begins in the 1970s, a pivotal period for Taiwanese tea. In an era before agricultural mechanization, a scientist affectionately known as the "Father of Taiwanese Tea," Dr. Wu Zhen-duo (吳振鐸), dedicated himself to a singular mission: cultivating a new tea cultivar with a stable yield and a unique flavor profile.

He crossbred the "Hard-Stem Red Heart," known for its robust branches and rich aroma, with "Tainung No. 8, (台農8號)" a resilient cultivar with thick leaves. From this meticulous process, the 27th successful seedling was born and named Tai Cha No. 12 (台茶12號，TTES No. 12). This is the tea we now know and love as Jin Xuan. The tea's famous milky aroma is a natural characteristic of the leaves themselves, developed during the intricate crafting process. With proper fermentation, the tea naturally releases a smooth fragrance reminiscent of caramel and condensed milk—a quality that makes Jin Xuan so captivating.

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Sun Moon Lake Ruby Black Tea

Origin: Sun Moon Lake(日月潭), Nanto Taiwan
Altitude: 700 meters
Oxidation: 100%
Cultivar: Ruby (TTES No. 18)
Harvest: Spring 2025

Sun Moon Lake(日月潭) Ruby Black Tea(紅玉), also known as Taiwan Tea No. 18, is a renowned Taiwanese black tea originating from the scenic Sun Moon Lake region. Developed over 50 years by the Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Station through crossbreeding native Taiwanese mountain tea with the Burmese large-leaf variety, this tea thrives in the area's temperate climate and fertile soils. Processed from one bud and two leaves into strip-shaped tea, it undergoes full oxidation to highlight its unique flavor, representing Taiwan's tea innovation and cultural heritage.

This tea stands out in the Sun Moon Lake series, alongside Assam, Red Rhyme, and Hidden Bud. Its development post-1999 earthquake helped revive the local tea industry, and it's also grown in areas like Chiayi and Alishan, yielding distinct regional flavors. 

Flavor Note

• Aroma: Cool minty sensation, cinnamon, and fruity notes, with a distinctive "Taiwan Aroma."
• Taste: Vibrant red liquor with a golden ring, rich and enchanting, initial astringency fading to lingering sweetness due to high tea polyphenols transformed into theaflavins and thearubigins.
• Finish: Persistent sweet aftertaste, smooth and captivating.

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Brewing Yield

• Each 10g package, brewed with 3g of tea leaves, offers up to 3 separate brewing sessions.
• Each serving can be re-steeped 2–3 times, allowing you to explore the tea’s evolving layers of flavor, for a total of 6–9 cups.

**Shipped within three weeks.