Happy Hogmanay -- Taiwan Aged Oolong

1/1/09 .. "Happy New Year" 新年快樂 -- xīn nián kuài lè.

Aged Oolong .. "Old Tea" 老 茶 -- Lao Cha ..

There are many appellations for this type of tea. In both Taiwan and Mainland I mostly hear "lao cha" amongst tea drinkers ..

BUT when it comes to selling / buying .. look out, long names and longer stories abound ..

Rule of Thumb:

"The longer the story, the more expensive the tea"

Almost a year to the day, I visited Wang Tea in Taipei City ...

http://chawu.blogspot.com/2008/01/taipei-tim-and-tea.html

From this adventure I listened to many stories with a delightful host: Charmaine Wang, the eldest of 3 grandchildren.

I picked up one of each: Short - Medium and Long story tea .. I cannot overstress that you MUST taste before you buy .. The unbelievable array of sense filling aromas, tastes and "long .. long after-tastes are unique to aged Oolongs .. With major variations between Taiwan and Mainland teas ..

Starting 2009 with the "long Story / expensive tea"

The initial assault on the olfactory senses is very pronounced in a wonderful way .. distinctive, warm roasted, only surpassed by the long (surprisingly long) aftertaste ..

Third infusion, the full leaves open in the Gaiwan: 
 
   Two Gaiwan infusions fill the pouring jug .. must share with; "She who must be obeyed"

A beautiful sunny day in So. Cal to usher in the new year, as the morning sun filters in.

Sitting back, it is easy to relax and enjoy....