Red Tin Oolong - The Selected Tea of Taiwan

[TwoPynts]

I have a mystery oolong that showed up at our office. Probably a gift from the rep for the factory that manufactures some of our equipment. Anyway, I noticed it in the kitchen and had to try it out. There is nothing in english to identify what type of oolong it might be. All it says is "The Selected Tea of Taiwan". I brewed some up and it makes a decent cuppa, though it shows more bitterness than I prefer. It's lightly vegetal with no real outstanding characteristics.

Anyone have any ideas? I think it may be a TGY. The pellets are solid and firmly rolled, taking a few infusions to unfurl fully. It isn't roasted and I would guess 30-40 oxidized. Here are some photos.

tin and bag

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dry leaves and broth

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[TwoPynts]

I have problems upload more than one image file to a post, so will add the others in their own posts, sorry.

wet leaves

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[TwoPynts]

wet leaves spread out

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[TwoPynts]

And oh, it handled about 5 infusions fairly well.

close-up of leaf

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[fracol]

Can't tell you what it is, but I will say that tin looks pretty awsome.

[TwoPynts]

Can't tell you what it is, but I will say that tin looks pretty awsome.

Hah, thanks. It is nice to suddenly find a bunch of oolong out of the blue like that, and in an awesome tin. I've brewed up a second batch with fewer leaves and it is better than the first, sweeter and more floral.

[Herb_Master]

When the tin is empty you could donate it to Chip - he collects tins.

[Chip]

When the tin is empty you could donate it to Chip - he collects tins.

Brilliant!

[fracol]

Hah thats cool chip, i didn't know that.

[the_economist]

i'm pretty sure its a taiwanese tgy, judging both by the serrated edges and the dry leaf appearance.

[wyardley]

i'm pretty sure its a taiwanese tgy, judging both by the serrated edges and the dry leaf appearance.

Why TGY vs. Dong Ding or some sort of gaoshan oolong (or fake gaoshan tea)?

[the_economist]

you got me there. i just learnt today that all the taiwan teas have these characteristics! haha...cept baozhong which isn't rolled. gg.

[TwoPynts]

I was hoping that perhaps the Taiwanese characters could be translated to find out what tea it was exactly. Anyhow, it is a nice little find, I'm lucky to have had it fall into my lap. Of course, I have no idea how old the tea is, but it seems in decent shape.

If one or two people want to do a swap, I can mail them some to sample. There's approx. 4.5 oz. left. Brewing myself up some more this AM.


EDIT: Actually, I just found out that this tin is at least 2 years old. The tea has held up well considering, but it was probably better when it was fresh.

[Tead Off]

Doesn't look like a TGY to me.

[Victoria]

I don't think it's TGY either looks like a goshan to me. But impossible to say which one.