Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. If you want to make tea drinking with friends fun, this is the tea to have on hand. At 85 degrees you get more caramel notes, at higher temperatures you get stronger notes of black tea. We usually stick to 85 degrees. Its fantastic flavour combines the classic black tea notes, like cocoa, dark chocolate, with the fragrant and sweet notes, like caramel, pumpkin, and sweet potato.
Zhongliao is situated in central Taiwan, Nantou county (南投). The northern Wu, or Black River (烏溪) and the southern Zhoushui river (濁水溪) embrace this area, providing it with a perfect climate for tea growing. Besides, south of its borders, at the feet of the mountains spreads out the Sun-Moon lake (日月潭), a most charming vista indeed. The tea comes from the area around Sun Moon lake in the upper Nantou district.
In Taiwan, the smaller-leaved var. Sinensis is common for making oolongs. The larger-leaved var. Assamica is characterised has a slightly more rustic flavour and, in the case of older bushes and trees, a larger body. This tea is harvested from smaller tea bushes and lasts less infusions, but the craftsmanship of the oolong teas, resulted in a very fragrant, sweet and inviting tea. This special caramelized character is achieved when the tea is finally dried in the oven. The pumpkin, sweet potato and caramel notes are most prominent. There are also hints of the cotton candy, evoking joyful memories from our childhood.
