お茶の旅
2020.09.04

The Confusing Names| Giving Names to Taiwanese Tea

The Confusing Names| Giving Names to Taiwanese Tea

Alishan Tea, High Mountain Tea, TTES No.18, Honey Aroma Tea…etc., such variety of names for tea can always make confusions for people.

Taiwanese teas are not like wine in France, which has its standard for naming and labelling.

- How come there are so many different names?
It could be easier to attract customers’ attentions.
For example, Fresh Li Shan Oolong Tea might also be named as Gao Leng Tea (High Cold Tea), Yun Wu Tea (Cloud and Fog Tea), and Shiue Shan Tea (Snow Mountain Tea).

- Basic Elements of Naming Tea.
Basic elements may include its aroma, growing region, cultivar, method of processing and trade name.
For instance, the name of Dong Ding tea should be named correctly as Roasted Dong Ding Chin-Shin-Oolong Oolong Tea.

- What kind of trade names are there?
For example, Song Bo Chang Ching Tea (Pine Oolong) and High Mountain Tea are commonly seen.

- What has been omitted from the name?
There are parts from the name being omitted and it is usually because people know which tea they are referring to. However, for people first time trying tea, the incomplete names may cause confusion.

The most common parts being omitted include aroma, cultivar and method for processing.

Take Li Shan Tea for example.
It is often made as fresh aroma, so the aroma label is omitted.
The most common tea cultivar planted in Li Shan region is Chin-Shin-Oolong, so the cultivar label is omitted.
The most common method for processing tea in Li Shan region is oolong tea, so the process name is omitted.
The full name should be Fresh Li Shan Chin-Shin-Oolong Oolong Tea.