| Formosa oolongs are a signature range of Taiwanese teas – with a Portuguese name. ‘Formosa,’ meaning ‘beautiful,’ was what Portuguese explorers named the island of Taiwan in the 16th century. Varying levels of oxidation, ranging between 10% and 80%, lead to various types of Formosa oolongs. Pouchong (Bao Zhong) is the lightest and “greenest” of them all, while Taiwanese Oriental Beauty (Bai Hao) represents the other end of the oxidation spectrum. Other well-loved varieties include High Mountain Oolong (Gao Shan) and Milk Oolong (Jin Xuan). |
