Tea Lover’s Question: I’m interested in buying Winter Sprout Oolong. I heard it’s harvested between the winter and spring tea seasons, but I’m not quite sure what makes it unique or how it differs from spring and winter teas.
Characteristics of Winter Sprout Oolong
Liao Chang Xing: Winter Sprout Oolong is also known as “sixth-water tea.” Generally, Taiwanese tea can be harvested five times a year, with the fifth harvest being winter tea. Sixth-water tea refers to leaves that grow for a sixth time, which is the defining characteristic of Winter Sprout Oolong—it grows and is harvested right in the dead of winter. Because its growing period is in the winter, the tea plants grow more slowly, resulting in a brew with remarkably low bitterness and astringency.
Compared to spring tea, spring tea has a stronger flavor but is also more prone to bitterness and astringency. Winter tea, on the other hand, has a milder flavor and isn’t as crisp or sweet as Winter Sprout Oolong. Some people also feel that Winter Sprout Oolong has a flavor profile similar to high mountain tea, because the growing temperatures are similarly low and growth is slow, bringing the flavors closer together.
In recent years, due to warmer winter trends, the production of Winter Sprout Oolong has increased. In the past, because yields were low and tea lovers were hesitant to try something new, tea farmers mostly kept it for themselves. It wasn’t until the unique qualities of Winter Sprout Oolong were discovered—and tea enthusiasts realized that lowland tea could rival high mountain tea in its lingering throat finish—that it gradually began appearing in tea shops.
If tea lovers haven’t tried Winter Sprout Oolong yet, you must taste it at least once to experience its unique mouthfeel. You can visit Zhushan Township or Mingjian Township, which are the largest production areas for Taiwan’s Winter Sprout Oolong. By buying some spring tea, winter tea, and Winter Sprout Oolong to taste side by side, you’ll easily notice what makes Winter Sprout Oolong so special. If you don’t have time to visit the production regions, you can also contact Liao Chang Xing, and we can deliver it right to your doorstep.