D-TW-036
Taiwan Aged Dark Tea
老茶
Aged roasted oolong dark, from Nantou, Taiwan.
Dark tea (post-fermented)
Taiwan Aged Dark Tea is strongest on smoothness, sweetness and body. Typical tasting words: plum, roasted, cedar, caramel, cinnamon. Historically kept in ceramic jars and re-roasted periodically by farming families as an inherited family treasure. Traditionally shared among connoisseurs or consumed for digestive ease after heavy banquets.
Also known as Aged Taiwanese Oolong, Lao Cha and Taiwan Old Tea.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Nantou, Taiwan
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Qing Xin
- Harvest
- spring base tea
- Elevation
- mid
- Oxidation
- 40 to 70%
- Roast
- medium
- Leaf
- rolled pellet
- Price band
- premium
- Availability
- specialist
- Ageing
- made for ageing
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- low
Made by: withering, then tossing, then partial oxidation, then rolling, then periodic charcoal roasting, then multi-year ageing.
Caffeine
A cup of Taiwan Aged Dark Tea carries a typical estimate of 35 mg of caffeine, within a range of 20 to 45 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 | 95 to 100 °C | 3 min, 4 min, 5 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6 g | 98 to 100 °C | Rinse, then 15 s, 20 s, 25 s, 35 s, 50 s, 70 s |
Up to 9 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- afternoon
- evening
- meditation
- after_dinner
- relaxing
Pairs with pastry, nuts and dessert. Milk: no. Iced: no. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
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shares sweetness and smoothness - B-GE-045Georgian Black
shares sweetness and smoothness - B-KR-051Korean Black (Hongcha)
shares smoothness and sweetness - O-CN-010Wuyi Bei Dou
shares body and smoothness - W-CN-005Aged White Tea (Lao Bai Cha)
shares smoothness and sweetness
More: all dark tea (post-fermented) teas, teas from Nantou, Taiwan, or filter the whole drawer.