February 2006
Shida
by Celia Cheng
TAIWANESE
HIGH MOUNTAIN OOLONG TEA
Taiwan is famous for it’s sophisticated and diversified crops of oolong tea. Just as one studies and tastes wines, there is an enormous amount of information to learn about teas, and to taste them is an even better treat. Like wine, you can judge a tea by its color and nose too. The fun part about tea is that there are definite etiquettes and ceremonies one can perform. The High Mountain Oolong tea Shida brought back from Taiwan is of extremely high quality and pricey. This tea has a mild natural taste and is not that bitter. It should be brewed to a nice golden hue, and it leaves a pleasant and lasting aftertaste. At the end of a meal, enjoying some tea with interesting conversation is a relaxing way to wind down from a fabulous meal.
