EN
Dong Fang Mei Ren GABA ("Oriental Beauty GABA") is a Taiwanese oolong in an unusual form for this type of tea: a pressed 200 g tea cake, bing cha (饼茶, bǐng chá). It combines three ideas: the style of the famous "Oriental Beauty", GABA processing, and compact pressing more familiar from pu-erh.
The leaf was grown in Taiwan, in Hsinchu County, the historic home of Dong Fang Mei Ren. It is made from Qing Xin (青心) tea bushes, loved on the island for delicate, aromatic oolongs. Classic "Oriental Beauty" is a heavily oxidized oolong made from leaves bitten by small leafhoppers; in response the plant produces compounds that create a honey-fruity aroma reminiscent of ripe peaches and muscat. For this reason the tea is often compared to champagne among oolongs.
GABA processing means the leaves are kept in a nitrogen-rich environment without oxygen. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulates in such a tea, and the flavor gains softness, a light tartness and notes of baked fruit.
Characteristics
- Type: gaba oolong in the Dong Fang Mei Ren style
- Region: Taiwan, Hsinchu County
- Cultivar: Qing Xin
- Form: pressed cake, 200 g
- Flavor: honey-fruity, floral-citrus, with a soft tartness
Aroma and Taste
Dry cake: a dense pressing with a sweet fruity-honey scent.
Infusion: honey-fruity notes combine with berry and woody tones and a light "baked" note typical of GABA. The flavor is floral-citrus, interwoven with the sweetness of ripe fruit; the aroma opens up more with every infusion.
Aftertaste: long and sweet.
Why You'll Love It
The cake is easy to store and take with you, and the tea holds up through many infusions. It is interesting for lovers of Taiwanese oolongs who want to try a rare format; pressing, as with pu-erh, lets you watch how the tea changes over time.
How to Brew
Carefully break off a piece with a knife or pu-erh pick.
Gongfu brewing (gaiwan or teapot):
- 5–7 g of tea per 100–150 ml of water
- water at 90–95 °C
- a quick rinse with boiling water, then infusions of 20–30 s, gradually increasing the time
Western-style brewing (teapot):
- 3 g of tea per 200 ml of water
- water at 90 °C, steep for 3–5 min
Storage
Keep the cake in a dry place, away from light and foreign odors, wrapped in paper or in a tightly closed container.