Green Tea Forum

addihetja · Guest

A few years ago I worked at this company that does a lot of business with Taiwan. One of the owners got a gift of tea on one of his business trips. It was the most remarkable beverage I have ever had. Every sip was like "drinking silk". The leaves were rolled from the tip to the base with the dried stilk bound around it.

The hunt for this tea brought me here. I've tried various types of green tea and I must say everything I've so far tried has been excellent. But none of them has come close to the one I'm looking for. I've tried ordering Jade butterfly from Nothing But Tea and although it was good, it wasn't even close to the one from Taiwan. Also, Jadye butterfly is folded and bound, not rolled and bound like the one I'm looking for.

Do you have any ideas what the tea is called or where I can look for it?

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 928 Location: Japan

The way I understand it, the "best" Tawian teas never leave Taiwan. A vendor told me that, and he would know, heh.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Sounds like you say you tried a green tea from Taiwan? Taiwan is much more well known for their oolongs.

The "best" oolongs may never leave Taiwan but I really have to wonder what that vendor meant by "best". If best means tea that was auctioned off for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per pound I suppose not. But I can vouch along witih many others that many very fine examples of Taiwanese oolong can be found outside of Taiwan which would certainly be considered excellent oolong. Whether it be competition tea or just darn good high mountain oolongs, I believe it is out there to be found via good vendors. At least that has been my experience.

addihetja · Guest

If it never "leaves" Taiwan, where can I get it? Is every gram auctioned off to the tea drinkers themselves or are there companies who then re-sell it to guys like me?

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I looked up "Jade Butterfly" and it appears that it is a green tea. Are you sure it comes from Taiwan and not mainland China?

richard · Guest

In my experience, the tea you mention is a very specialized hand made tea that may have been created for gifts. These teas are very expensive and are usually not exported, as we Americans will not pay the price they bring. If a teamaker can sell all their tea in Taiwan, why export. I know a large exporter of Taiwanese Oolong teas who told me that their best teas are not sold in the US for just this reason.

richard

addihetja · Guest

The Jade Butterfly I tried is from mainland china. The leaves are usually two joined at the stem, folded in 3 or 4 parts and bound at the center with the stem end.

The tea I'm trying to find again came from Taiwan.

I'm very happy with japanese tea though and currently have an order from o-cha in transit.

LuYu · Guest

The best tea from Taiwan and Fujian is the Oolong variety. And the best type of Oolong is known as Tie Guanyin (Iron Goddess of Mercy/Avalokitsevara). Furthermore, the best Tie Guanyin is called Tie Guanyin Wang (King of Tie Guanyin). You can find this tea easily in Taiwan, HK, or the mainland. Happy hunting!

viettea · Guest

You can find this type of oolong tea Tie Guanyin (Iron Goddess of Mercy/Avalokitsevara) or other oolong tea in the Asian super market. I have some oolong tea they are pretty good. Often western don't have the best price and best product from Asia because we Asian want to keep our secret. Some time not very good attitude to have. Does anyone have a famous vietnamese green tea Shan Tuyen (Snow Green Tea)?

Chinese tea seller · Posted: Sep 26, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject:

the tea you haven't give more information,chinese people often describe teas in its shape,its flavor,aroma,brew's color and the teas'leaf after boiled.could you give some more information.the mainlandchina oolong tea tie guan ying i don't think have the silk flavor.taiwan has the dongding wulong tea(the pronounce ,i don't know english spell) that is the famous tea ,maybe you can try it.i don't know its flavor.i think mainland china has some special tea that is made in the first time every year.these teas often in diffrent place have different flavor,fifferent aroma.maybe you can search it in these teas.