O-TW-042
Charcoal Roasted Formosa Oolong
炭焙烏龍
Traditional charcoal-roasted rolled oolong, from Nantou, Taiwan.
Oolong tea
Charcoal Roasted Formosa Oolong is strongest on smoothness, finish length and toasty. Typical tasting words: charcoal, roasted, caramel, chestnut, dark chocolate. A traditional craft where finished oolong undergoes prolonged roasting over longan charcoal embers, a labour-intensive method perfected in Nantou. Cherished by veteran tea masters who value the patience and skill needed to bake the leaf without scorching its core.
Also known as Charcoal Roasted Dong Ding and Tan Bei Oolong.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Nantou, Taiwan
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Qing Xin
- Harvest
- spring
- Elevation
- mid
- Oxidation
- 30 to 45%
- Roast
- medium-dark
- Leaf
- rolled pellet
- Price band
- premium
- Availability
- fairly common
- Ageing
- made for ageing
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- low
Made by: solar withering, then indoor withering, then tossing, then panning, then cloth ball rolling, then drying, then bamboo basket charcoal roasting.
Caffeine
A cup of Charcoal Roasted Formosa Oolong carries a typical estimate of 30 mg of caffeine, within a range of 20 to 40 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 92 to 98 °C | 2 min, 3 min, 4 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6.5 g | 95 to 100 °C | Rinse, then 30 s, 25 s, 30 s, 45 s, 60 s, 90 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 3 g | Fridge | 10 to 16 hours |
Up to 8 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- afternoon
- evening
- after_dinner
- cold_weather
- meditation
Pairs with nuts, dim_sum and pastry. Milk: no. Iced: yes. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- O-TW-032Roasted Dong Ding
shares smoothness and finish length - O-TW-035Muzha Tieguanyin
shares finish length and toasty - O-CN-001Tieguanyin (Traditional Roast)
shares sweetness and body - O-TW-037Hung Shui Oolong
shares sweetness and body - O-CN-003Da Hong Pao
shares finish length and body - O-CN-010Wuyi Bei Dou
shares finish length and body
More: all oolong tea teas, teas from Nantou, Taiwan, or filter the whole drawer.