Yun Hong Black Tea

In the Wenshan District of Taipei, Taiwan, Muzha Tie Guan Yin and Wenshan Baozhong are two well-known oolong teas produced there.   Both fine oolongs are crafted from the tea leaves plucked in the spring or winter.  The local tea farmers normally forgo picking leaves in the summer and autumn because they consider the leaves from these two seasons to be too astringent to make quality oolongs.   But Taipei Farmers Association recently began to experiment with as well as to encourage the production of black teas from the summer and autumn leaves.  The payoffs are two new black teas:  Yun Hong (Rhythm Red from Chin Shin and small-leaf cultivars) and Tie Yun Hong (Iron Rhythm Red from Iron Goddess cultivar)

Taipei Tea Research, Development and Promotional Centre for Tieguanyin and Baozhong 

Small baking tools for Iron Goddess and Yun Hong

Yun Hong means Rhythm Red and is the inversion of Hong Yun (Red Rhythm). Yun Hong is not Hong Yun, which is from TRES 21 cultivar grown in Yuchi, Taiwan.

2015 Muzha black tea competition silver category seal

Silver category Yun Hong tea canisters 

This 2015 Yun Hong was created from the leaves of Chin Shin and other available small-leaf tea cultivars in the Wenshan District, Taipei.  It is marketed by Taipei Farmers Association.   It is a medium-bodied black tea.  It is smooth, simple and not spectacular.

Type:  Black    Producing Country: Taiwan    Preparation:  95°C 4 Min

Dry Leaf:  The small and medium twisted leaves are black.  They have a nice biscuit or malty aroma.
Wet Leaf:  The wet leaves have a barely detectable floral scent.
Liquor:   The tea is amber brown.  The liquor smells malty.  It is slightly sweet and medium-bodied.   It lacks astringency and is smooth.  

Tee Score: 4 of 5