Oo-La-Long

I was really in need of some good tea yesterday, and I was really in the mood for some Chinese tea. I've been on a real English tea kick as of late, and honestly, English teas are probably my favorite, but sometimes you just need that particular brand of bold flavor and refreshing zing of Chinese tea. I neither had the time nor the money to stop at my local tea house, but I was in luck. My father offered to get me a snack when I visited him at work so I got to pick me up some Honest Tea. I really love Honest Tea. Some brands of bottled tea are really not quality, and I mean "why are my teeth tingly and squeeky and why is my tongue half numb?" not quality. Peach Oo-La-Long strikes a good balance in the sweetness department, and has a cute background story to boot!

I reealized I didn't know enough about how Oolong is made, so I had a little research time.



"・Manual production method supported by tradition and craftsmanship (China)
The production of delicious oolong tea requires time-honored tradition and outstanding craftsmanship. Tea leaves are picked on the morning of a clear day. They should be picked in units consisting of one bud and three leaves and exposed to the sun. This is the first stage. The second stage is to dry them indoors to promote fermentation. The most crucial part in the production of oolong tea is when to stop fermentation. As oolong tea is fermented to some extent, it is called semi-fermented tea. Experience is required to identify the best time to stop the fermentation, which is when the leaves are 30% red and 70% green. After this, they are rubbed repeatedly to generate good flavor, aroma, and texture. Then they are dried using charcoal. At
the final stage, a tea master grades the quality according to the flavor and characteristics of each batch. China's Fujian Chaye Jin Chukou Gongsi (Tea Import and Export Corporation and Fujian Tea Association) exports oolong tea to Japan.


・Flow of Production Stages
(China)
- Tea leaves are picked by hand in units of one bud and three
leaves
- First fermentation

- 30% red and 70% green
- Careful decision on when to stop fermentation
- Generation of the qualities unique to oolong tea
- Charcoal drying
- Grading by a tea master
- Export to Japan"