Yunnan "Eastern Beauty" Taiwan Varietal Oolong Tea

A rare crossover worth savoring: classic Taiwan character grown in Yunnan’s cool highlands. This lot comes from northwestern Tengchong (Baoshan Prefecture), where second-flush Jin Xuan (TTES #12) leaves are crafted in the Eastern Beauty / 东方美人 (Dong Fang Mei Ren) style. The result sits deliciously between oolong and black tea—lush fruit over warm malt, silky and deeply aromatic.

• Taiwan cultivar, Yunnan terroir: Jin Xuan’s creamy, fruit-forward personality meets Tengchong’s 1,300 m altitude and wide day–night swings for extra aroma concentration.

• Second flush for OB style: Later spring leaf suits this processing, bringing natural sweetness and a richer, amber liquor.

• Balanced like a light black + oolong: Think honeyed stone fruit and baked sugar on top of gentle malt and spice, finishing clean with a lingering hui-gan.

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Honey, ripe peach/apricot, baked sugar, light florals.

• Cup: Amber-gold liquor; medium-plus body with a creamy, rounded texture.

• Flavor: Peach, nectarine, lychee hints; malt and biscuit underneath; soft sweet spice (cinnamon/allspice) toward later steeps.

• Finish: Long, cooling and sweet, with a returning throat sweetness.

Origin & processing

• Area: Northwestern Tengchong, Baoshan Prefecture, Yunnan

• Altitude: ~1,300 m

• Harvest: Second flush (May)

• Cultivar: Jin Xuan (TTES #12)

• Style: Crafted in the Eastern Beauty tradition with medium-high oxidation; gently baked to set the fragrance (no heavy roast).

Note: In the Eastern Beauty tradition, later-spring leaves often develop naturally honeyed aromatics; this lot leans into that profile with a fruit-forward, mellow sweetness.

Brewing guide

(Adjust to taste and water.)

Gongfu (recommended)

• 5-6 g per 100 mL

• 95 °C (203 °F)

• Quick rinse, then 20s • 25s • 30s • 40s… for 6–8 infusions

• Expect early steeps to emphasize honey/fruit; later steeps bring more malt and spice.

Western

• 3 g per 300 mL (10 oz)

• 95 °C (203 °F) for 2–3 minutes

• Good for 2–3 infusions; extend time slightly on subsequent steeps.

Grandpa style

• 2g per 300–350 mL (10–12 oz), 90–95 °C, top up as you sip. Smooth, all-day honeyed malt.

Cold brew

• 8–10 g per 1 L, room-temp water; refrigerate 8-10 hours. Bright, peachy, and ultra-smooth.

Summary:

• Caffeine: Medium

• Storage: Airtight, cool, dry, and dark. Enjoy within 18–24 months for peak aromatics.

• Area: Northwestern Tengchong, Baoshan Prefecture (Yunnan)

• Altitude: 1,300 m

• Harvest time: Second flush (May)

• Varietal: Jin Xuan (TTES #12)

• Style: Eastern Beauty / 东方美人 (Dong Fang Mei Ren); medium-high oxidation, light bake

In short: An incredibly enjoyable, Yunnan-grown Taiwan-varietal Eastern Beauty fruit-forward, honeyed, and malt-kissed—at a very approachable price.