Polka Dots & Moonbeams 2026 Simao Dongfang Meiren Oolong

Description

This year’s Dongfang Meiren is perhaps the most elegant version we’ve carried. It’s floral and well balanced, with honey notes and a sweetness that runs cleanly through the session, and a soup that stays smooth from start to finish. Made from Ruanzhi varietal, this tea has a more refined character that leans further into honey and florals.

Dongfang Meiren (aka “Eastern Beauty”) originates in Taiwan and its production depends on small insects called leafhoppers. They’re feeding on the tea leaves triggers a defensive response, and the juices the plant releases are what give the tea its distinctive flavour. These bites also start oxidation in the leaves and tips before the tea is ever picked, which is a large part of what sets this style apart from other oolongs.

Good examples often come at a price, as the processing it fairly intensive and the yields are low. While this tea isn’t certified organic due to the acreage requirements, this tea comes from an excellent environment, as required by bugs that lend this tea’s unique flavour to thrive.

This is one that we highly recommend brewing a variety of different way, whether gongfu, thermos or cold brew, the latter of which is especially enjoyable during the hotter months.

$0.26-0.33/gram

Varietal: Taiwanese soft stem varietal (台湾小叶种乌龙软枝)
Picking Period: Spring 2026
Region: Simao, Yunnan