Another guessing game

[Tead Off]

Re: Another guessing game

by Tead Off » Jan 25th, '10, 12:20

vietnam, but sold as Ali Shan?

I love this answer! Possible, there are a lot of those nowadays.

There was a big scandal some time back where Taiwanese were selling SE Asian oolong as being made in Taiwan. Also, what was thought to be organic here SE Asia contained some nasty pesticides that are used in citrus production. So much funny business going on to make a buck. The good thing is that Taiwan usually has high standards and teas are tested regularly but no place is exempt from corruption.

[gingkoseto]

Re: Another guessing game

by gingkoseto » Jan 25th, '10, 13:01

vietnam, but sold as Ali Shan?

I love this answer! Possible, there are a lot of those nowadays.

There was a big scandal some time back where Taiwanese were selling SE Asian oolong as being made in Taiwan. Also, what was thought to be organic here SE Asia contained some nasty pesticides that are used in citrus production. So much funny business going on to make a buck. The good thing is that Taiwan usually has high standards and teas are tested regularly but no place is exempt from corruption.

In tea, the problem is big. Actually I think it's so common nowadays that it's no longer "scandal" that catches everybody's eyes. Many tea professionals even avoid talking about it. I remember in Teahome Taiwan's owner's online journal, he once mentioned that a major whole sale supplier he knows told him they would have a major switch from local oolong to "imported oolong", and that just broke his heart. He didn't name the specific supplier, but maybe nowadays there aren't just a few.

So I guess nowadays for vendors, it's important to source the tea directly from farmers or farmer association. For buyers, taste of the tea is more important than any labels or verbal notes of the tea.

[cindyt]

Re: Another guessing game

by cindyt » Jan 25th, '10, 15:13

So I guess nowadays for vendors, it's important to source the tea directly from farmers or farmer association. For buyers, taste of the tea is more important than any labels or verbal notes of the tea.

Yes it is a known fact that fake tea is everywhere in Taiwan.

It is tricky sometimes even with farmers. A friend of mine told me her mom buys tea directly from farmers in Taiwan all the time. After finding the tea she likes, she places the order and tells the farmer, I am only buying tea from the same can that you used to brew my tea sample from, I am not buying anything if they are from a different can.

It is depressing, actually..

[Cha Nacho]

Re: Another guessing game

by Cha Nacho » Jan 25th, '10, 22:25

Here are my official three guesses!

1. Da Yu Ling Oolong from Taiwan
2. Light roast Dong Ding from Taiwan
3. Shan Ling Xi Oolong from Taiwan

How'd I do?

[gingkoseto]

Re: Another guessing game

by gingkoseto » Jan 26th, '10, 19:50

Individual leaves

[Maitre_Tea]

Re: Another guessing game

by Maitre_Tea » Jan 26th, '10, 19:52

maybe it's a Taiwanese oolong that has some Vietnamese leaves mixed in. Just throwing it out there

[TIM]

Re: Another guessing game

by TIM » Jan 26th, '10, 22:52

http://www.teadrunk.org/viewtopic.php?id=100

Visual ID.

[gingkoseto]

Re: Another guessing game

by gingkoseto » Jan 31st, '10, 15:03

Okay, let's have it run through the coming Thursday (Feb. 4), which is my weekend and also the "start of spring" day on lunar calendar

Gifts (samples of this tea and 2 relevant teas) will go to the first 3 good answers (or closest answers)

[Dresden]

Re: Another guessing game

by Dresden » Jan 31st, '10, 19:51

C'mon guys... It's obviously partially oxidized Camellia Sinensis!!!

[edkrueger]

Re: Another guessing game

by edkrueger » Feb 2nd, '10, 00:57

I'm going with:
1) Taiwanese Jin Xuan
2) Taiwanese Jade
3) Taiwanese Green Centered

[chrishall314]

Re: Another guessing game

by chrishall314 » Feb 4th, '10, 16:54

1. Jin Xuan
2. Da Yu Ling
3. Shan Ling Xi

[gingkoseto]

Re: Another guessing game

by gingkoseto » Feb 5th, '10, 11:41

Good guess Edkrueger Taiwanese Jade (cui yu) it is. I thought it was tricky because it's not the high mountain style jade oolong (besides cui yu or green jade always make people think "green"). This is a Dong Ding style (medium oxidation, medium roast, singe leaf curled) jade oolong, ranked 4th grade award (you liang/excellence award) in Nantou County Tea Merchants Association competition of winter 2009. So I would like to also give Oni and Cha Nacho credit for mentioning Dong Ding.

PM me, you guys! Gifts will be samples of this tea, another high mountain green style jade oolong, and an excellence award dong ding oolong (made of green heart oolong cultivar) from the same competition event. I personally found the comparison between them very interesting.

[Cha Nacho]

Re: Another guessing game

by Cha Nacho » Feb 5th, '10, 15:49

Yay! Thanks Ginko, that is really cool!

[hop_goblin]

Re: Another guessing game

by hop_goblin » Feb 7th, '10, 01:57

Boy that was tuff! Taiwan against Wuyi!