TeaCultureDrink
Taiwan Tea 101: Oolong, Oriental Beauty, and Ruby 18
Taiwan makes the best Oolong in the world. Period. Here is how to buy it without getting ripped off.
Published on September 15, 2025
TL;DR / Quick Summary
Taiwan makes the best Oolong in the world. Period. Here is how to buy it without getting ripped off.
The Big Three
- High Mountain Oolong (Gao Shan Cha): Grown at 1000m+. Floral, creamy, light. Ideally from Alishan or Lishan.
- Oriental Beauty (Dong Fang Mei Ren): Only grows in Hsinchu. Bug-bitten tea leaves create a honey-like flavor. Queen Elizabeth II reportedly loved it.
- Ruby 18 (Hong Yu): A hybrid black tea grown in Sun Moon Lake. Tastes like cinnamon and mint.
Where to Drink
- Maokong: Take the gondola up. Pick a teahouse (like Yao Yue). Sit for 4 hours.
- Wistaria Tea House: A historic Japanese-style house in Taipei. Very zen.
Buying Tips
- Taste First: A real tea shop sits you down and brews it for you. If they don't let you taste, don't buy.
- Price: Good tea starts at around 600 NTD per 150g (one canister). If it's too cheap, it's mixed with Vietnamese tea.
