Plucking Time and Imperial Formosa Oolong Tea

Imperial Formosa oolong tea is one of the finest oolong teas you can buy, so long as it is produced in a quality tea garden that takes great care in how the tea is harvested and processed. To choose the best Imperial Formosa oolong tea, it's important to know some things about this tea and how it is harvested and produced.

Oolong tea is a hybrid of green and black tea. It is produced from the same plant as other teas, but processed a bit differently. Green tea is left unfermented, black tea is fully fermented and oolong tea is semi-fermented, meaning that the fermentation time is shorter than that of other teas, so some percentage of the tea leaves are left green.

This partial fermentation creates a tea that is lighter than black tea, but bolder and more flavorful than green tea. Depending upon how long the tea artisan allows the leaves to ferment, or oxidize, the tea may be closer to the flavor of a green tea or closer to the flavor of a black tea. In addition, oolong tea is produced from larger tea leaves, those that grow further down the tea plant.

Imperial Formosa oolong tea is produced only in Taiwan. Teas from Taiwan are referred to as Formosa teas because this was the country's original name. Most people think of China as the place where oolong teas are produced, and, in fact, China does produce the largest quantity of oolong tea today. However, Taiwan runs a close second, and their oolong teas are considered some of the best in the world.

According to historical book reports, tea bushes had been found growing in the wild of Taiwan about three hundred years ago. Tea varieties were introduced in Taiwan about two hundred years ago by immigrants from China and a new industry was born.

Imperial Formosa oolong tea is fermented until the leaves are about 30% oxidized. Timing the oxidation period is a critical step in creating a good oolong tea. To create the same flavor each time, the artisan must appropriately bruise the leaves and then see that the oxidation happens precisely. Producing oolong tea is a labor intensive process that cannot be effectively managed with machines and other mass production processes.

For this reason, fewer tea gardens produce oolong than other teas. Producing the very best oolong requires strict adherence to the process and timing as well as skilled tea artisans who can determine exactly when the tea leaves are appropriately dried and when they're appropriately fermented. For this reason, oolong teas are often more expensive than black and green teas. Formosa oolong teas are typically the most expensive oolong teas because labor costs in Taiwan are higher than those in other countries.

Like black and green teas, the flavor of oolong teas are also affected by when the leaves are plucked. The first teas plucked during the season are the spring teas, also known as first flush teas. These are generally the most highly prized tea leaves of the season. Though the tea plant will be harvested several more times before the end of the summer, in most cases the tea from these subsequent pluckings will not rival the first plucked tea in flavor.

This is primarily because tea leaves grown later in the season are subject to hotter weather and often become baked in the sun before theyre even plucked. The same rules apply to most oolong teas. In most cases, the first flush of oolong will have the best taste. You'll typically find Imperial Formosa oolong tea produced from the first plucking of the season.

The best tea gardens, can, however, make good tea from each flush of the growing season, though many tea connoisseurs will always favor first flush teas. This exceptional flavor and smaller availability make first flush oolong teas the most expensive of the growing season, too.

The best tea gardens label their teas not only by the grade of the tea leaves, but according to which plucking they were produced from. Some tea gardens don't even pluck more than twice a season, believing that the quality of the tea is not sufficient after the second plucking.

In most cases Imperial Formosa oolong tea will be a first flush tea and will be graded Finest to Choice, the highest grade of Formosa teas. Few tea gardens produce Imperial Formosa oolong, and most can be counted on to produce high quality tea.

Earl Grey Was a Real Person and is a Great Tea

Earl Grey tea is a popular flavored black tea named after an historic figure in 19th century England. Earl Grey's existence and historic accomplishments are well documented but his influence on the tea that bears his name is less clear.

Charles Grey was the 2nd Earl Grey, (13 March 1764 - 17 July 1845), and was a British Whig statesman and Prime Minister. His father, Charles Grey, the 1st Earl Grey, was a notable British general in the American Revolution who commanded victories in several battles, notably against the American forces under General Anthony Wayne and at the Battle of Germantown (1777-78).

Descended from a long-established Northumbrian family, Grey was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was elected to Parliament at the age of 22 in 1786. He became a part of the Whig movement, and soon became one of the major leaders of the Whig party which befitted his high standing in British society. Grey was noted for advocating strong Parliamentary reform and Catholic emancipation.

The Whig party slowly evolved during the 18th century. In general terms, the Whig tendency supported the great aristocratic families and non-Anglicans, while the opposing Tories supported the Anglican Church and the gentry. Later on, the Whigs drew support from the emerging industrial interests and wealthy merchants, while the Tories drew support from the landed interests and the British Crown.

By the first half of the 19th century, however, the Whig political program came to encompass not only the supremacy of parliament over the monarch and support for free trade, but the abolition of slavery, and, significantly, expansion of the franchise. Eventually the Whigs would evolve into the Liberal Party while the Tories became the Conservative Party.

In 1830, the Whigs finally returned to power, with Grey as Prime Minister. His Ministry was a notable one, seeing passage of the Reform Act 1832, which finally saw the reform of the House of Commons, and the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire in 1833.

Grey eventually became more conservative however, and he avoided more far-reaching reforms. In 1834 Grey retired from public life.

Earl Grey tea is named after Grey who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic present, of tea flavored with bergamot oil. The legend reportedly involved a grateful Chinese mandarin whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men, although this blend of tea was first made from fermented black Indian and "Ceylonese" (Sri Lankan) teas not found in China.

Since green tea is much more popular in China than black tea, it is improbable that they would have had a recipe for what we now call Earl Grey to bestow on visitors, though over the years many other varieties of tea have been used. In addition, Lord Grey never visited China.

A second version of the legend has the son of an Indian raja being rescued from a tiger by one of Grey's servants and expressed his gratitude through the gift of the newly flavored black tea.

The tea became a commercial favorite as many merchants realized the value and popularity of the flavored tea and began to market Earl Grey intensively. This marketing effort was aided by the tax reductions implemented by the British Government at the end of the prior century.

How did Monkeys Influence the Spread of Tea?

For thousands of years monkeys have had a symbiotic relationship with the Camellia Sinensis (Tea) plant. It is a fact that over 40% of the tea plant is comprised of phenolics in the leaf.

Phenolics are ranked among the most powerful anti bacteria substances known to man and it is a fact that monkeys have the ability to consume plants that they perceive to be beneficial to their health.

When the tea leaves were consumed by monkeys, the phenolics cleansed their mouths and digestive tracts as well as wounds and sores on their skin. And tea had an evolutionary effect on monkeys as the healthier ones who fed on the tea plant thrived and travelled throughout Southeast Asia.

Many scientists have concluded that the existence of healthy, well travelled monkeys spread the existence of the tea plant into southern China and merchants and farmers soon noticed the beneficial effects of the tea plant.

More Profit for Independant Coffee Shops

Make no doubt about it - the country is in a recession and consumer spending is being cut back, High priced coffee is affected and even Starbucks is suffering and cutting back.Independent coffee shops are affected as well. High quality specialty loose leaf tea is a way to bolster sales and dramatically increase profits for the independent coffee shop.

The big players (Starbucks and other chains) will survive because they are huge and can withstand the storm but independents need to take action quickly and adjust their business models to take advantage of new opportunities.

You can survive - and thrive - in this bad economy by serving high quality specialty loose leaf tea. Some suppliers are offering packages that guarantee you'll clear at least $1,500.00 from the first shipment. Loose leaf tea offers recession relief when you need it most!Your customers will love loose leaf tea. If you purchase from a high quality loose leaf tea vendor you can often purchase at wholesale prices for their best selling tea.

Tea is America's fast-growing beverage and specialty loose leaf tea is the fastest growing tea segment..

Because green tea has anti-oxidant health benefits, consumer demand is booming - particularly for superior grade loose leaf tea.Loose leaf tea gives you a big competitive advantage over Starbucks and other chains. They sell the inferior mass-produced tea bag product for $1.50 a cup. For the same price, you serve great-tasting, award-winning gourmet tea preferred by upscale consumers.