10g Buglove 虫愛

$13.00
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Bag Size:
SKU:
R-TW101-10
Weight:
10.00 Grams

Out of stock

Buglove (虫愛, Chóng Ài, "Bug Love") is one of two bug-bitten Taiwanese oolongs that we've recently acquired through a friend of the teahouse who lives in Taiwan. "Bug-bitten" refers to tea from plants that have been preyed upon by the Tea Leafhopper the most classical and famous of which is a twisted-leaf oolong called Eastern Beauty from Hsinchu in Taiwan. The bug itself is in fact a true bug known in Chinese as 茶小綠葉蟬, Chá Xiǎo Lǜyè Chán, Jacobiasca formosana. It has piercing mouthparts that it uses to suck juices out of the leaf. This predation stimulates a physiological response in the plant, giving it a sweet aroma. 

In contrast, Buglove is a rolled oolong from Cifeng in central Taiwan. It exhibits a medium-level of oxidation with a complex fragrance, with notes of honey unfolding into berry and roasted fruit.