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Oolong tea · Bug-bitten oolong

Oriental Beauty

東方美人, Bai Hao, Dongfang Meiren

8.2/10 editor's score

A heavily oxidised oolong from northern Taiwan, made from leaves bitten by tiny leafhoppers. The bites change the leaf and give a natural honey and ripe-fruit sweetness.

Bug-bittenSweetHoney
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Oriental Beauty, top-down

What you need

3 g leafOriental Beauty
200 ml water80 to 85°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorBright amber to orange
Served inGaiwan and small cups

At a glance

A heavily oxidised oolong from northern Taiwan, made from leaves bitten by tiny leafhoppers.

CaffeineLow to medium~25 to 45 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestEarly summer, June to JulyPicked around the Dragon Boat Festival, when leafhoppers are active.
Pairs withFruit tarts, Mild cheeses, ShortbreadLess good with spicy food
Grown atLow hills, about 200 to 600 mHsinchu, Beipu and Emei
Served inGaiwan and small cupsGongfu style, many short steeps

About Oriental Beauty

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a honeyed, fruity sweetness, often compared to muscat grape and ripe peach, with no harsh astringency 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

HsinchuBeipu and EmeiTAIWAN
Region
Hsinchu and Miaoli counties, Taiwan 1
Insect
Tea green leafhopper (Jacobiasca formosana) 1
Oxidation
High for an oolong 1
Season
Early summer, when the insects are active 1

More from Hsinchu and Taiwan.

History and culture

Bug-bitten tea was likely a happy accident: farmers who could not spray found their bitten tea sold well 1.

A popular story says Queen Victoria named it "Oriental Beauty". There is no firm evidence for this 1.

Editor's score

8.2/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 9.0Origin & heritage: 9.0Availability: 7.0Value: 7.0Beginner-friendliness: 8.5Versatility: 7.0Flavour 9.0Heritage 9.0Availability 7.0Value 7.0Beginners 8.5Versatility 7.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Oriental Beauty~25 to 45 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate for a Western cup. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

One main harvest in early summer. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Often made from the Qingxin Dapang cultivar, among others 1.

How it is made
01Leafhopper bites

Insects feed on young shoots.

02Plucking

Bitten buds and leaves, by hand.

03Withering

A long wither.

04Oxidation

Heavy, for an oolong.

05Fixing

Heat stops oxidation.

06Wrapping

Leaf rests in cloth before final drying.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafLoose, curled leaves in white, red, brown and yellow.
LiquorBright amber to orange.
After steeping
Wet leafReddish-brown, soft leaves.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Fruit tarts
  • Mild cheeses
  • Shortbread

Best avoided

  • Spicy food

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Graded by leaf colour mix and tips. Competition grades exist in Taiwan.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Real bug-bitten leaf has a natural honey smell.
  2. Very uniform leaf may be a lesser imitation.
FAQ
Is it safe to drink bug-bitten tea?

Yes. The insects bite the leaf while it grows. The finished tea is processed and dried like any oolong.

Why no pesticides?

The leafhoppers need to be on the bushes, so growers avoid spraying.

Find it inOolong teasTeas from TaiwanHsinchuBug-bittenSweetHoney

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Oriental Beauty tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Beauty
  2. Wikipedia, "Taiwanese tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_tea
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.