Formosa Tea – Taiwan’s Gift to Tea-Lovers
You may have come across the term during your tea explorations, or perhaps you have been fortunate to have tasted one of these exquisite teas, but how much do you know about the much-loved “Formosa” tea?
The word “Formosa” comes from the historical Portuguese name for the island of Taiwan, likely bestowed by Portuguese sailors around 1542, and translates as “beautiful island”.
Formosa teas are simply a variety of semi-fermented oolong teas grown in the mountains of Taiwan, which are slightly darker than certain other oolong varieties. The flavours of Formosa teas are unique and complex, and often described as revealing sweet, smooth notes of ripe autumnal fruits, molasses and orchids, with a slight woodiness and a satisfying finish.
At Tea-Direct, we source a great selection of Formosa teas, from bold and fruity Oolong, to sweet and fragrant Orange Blossom Oolong, aromatic Jade Oolong and the much-revered Ti Kuan Yin Iron Goddess Oolong.
Oolong Tea – From £10.99
This darker style oolong tea is sourced from Taiwan and offers deep raisin and ripe fruit aromas that are redolent of Autumn. Revealing lingering sweet flavours and smooth, fruity notes, this is a great introduction to Taiwanese tea, and is perfect for those colder days.
Gunpowder Tea – From £9.99
Produced in the Zhejiang Province of China, this green tea is prepared by rolling the leaves into small pellets, at which point they are withered, steamed, rolled and dried. The resulting tea is beautifully golden in colour, and packed full of flavours and wonderful aromas that can be enjoyed all through the day.
Formosa Lapsang Souchong Tea – From £10.99
This delicious, large leaf black tea is gently smoked to reveal hints of pine and oak, with a smoky, earthy taste
that is typical of a lapsang souchong tea, though slightly more prominent.
Oolong Silvertip Fancy Tea – From £20.99This loose leaf, high grown tea is picked when the leaves are young and the buds are just beginning to unfurl. After being picked, these leaves are fermented and then wilted in the sun, where they are turned in bamboo baskets throughout the drying process. The result is a lovely smooth tea, with great flavours and wild aromas.
Jade Oolong Tea – From £21.99
Sourced from Nantou county in Taiwan, Jade Oolong is created from large, tightly rolled leaves, resulting in a lovely deep green tea. Produced through a process that allows oxidised leaves to gradually unfurl and release essential oils, this tea reveals complex aromas, sweet flavours and a beautiful floral character.
Orange Blossom Oolong Tea – From £12.99
Offering mild but distinctively sweet and fruity aromas, Orange Blossom Oolong is flavoured by the blossom flower of the orange tree, resulting in a delicately scented, citrusy tea.
This tea offers a delicious and unique flavour profile, which combines the smooth, slightly floral flavours of oolong tea with the sweet, citrusy taste of orange blossoms.
Ti Kuan Yin Iron Goddess Oolong Tea – From £13.99
This green oolong tea is known for its orchid-like aroma and complex flavours. This tea is revered for its delicate, floral aromas, with notes of orchid and honey, and its smooth, buttery flavour. Highly valued for its complex and nuanced flavour profile, Ti Kuan Yin Iron Goddess Oolong is often considered to be one of the finest oolong teas in the world.