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.
