Cultivar: Foshou Oolong (Buddha Hand)
Harvested by hand on April 20th, 2023
Origin: Pinglin area, Wenshan, North Taiwan
Process: Light oxidation, striped shape, without roast, no stems.
1. View
The dry leaves of the Buddha Hand cultivar are huge! They are the biggest leaves used in Taiwan. The name Buddha Hand comes not just from the large size of the open leaves, but originally it refers to the Foshou (Buddha hand) fruit (see the last picture). The brew's color is yellow, which indicates a light oxidation level.
2. Scents
The dry scents remind me of pine trees in a subtropical forest. The first brew has oyster fragrances! The next brews are more typical with citrus scents that are similar to the scents of the Buddha Hand fruit. That's why the name is such a good fit.
3. Taste
Light and sweet and only a very light zesty astringency that is typical of the citrus fruit.
Conclusion: This Buddha Hand cultivar produces impressive open leaves and very different Baozhong aromas. It's important to preserve these special cultivars to promote the diversity of Wenshan Baozhong. Tea would be boring if it were only made of a couple of cultivars!