ARIEL Formosa

ARIEL Formosa is a whole leaf oolong from Taiwan, available in a 1 kg bulk format for café and specialty retail programmes. It sits at the darker end of the oolong spectrum, producing a fuller, amber-coloured cup that bridges oolong and black tea character. Well suited to any loose leaf oolong or premium tea programme.

Tasting Notes

The cup is a deep amber-orange, with a smooth, full body and a warm, slightly honeyed character. There is a gentle earthiness and a soft woody note in the finish, with none of the astringency of fully oxidised black teas. Approachable for a broad guest profile and distinct enough to anchor a loose leaf oolong menu slot.

Origin

Formosa is the historical Portuguese name for Taiwan, long used in the international tea trade to designate Taiwanese oolongs. Taiwan's growing regions produce oolongs with a characteristic body and depth that have made the origin internationally respected. The open, twisted leaf style reflects a more oxidised processing approach than rolled-pellet oolongs such as Tie Kuan Yin.

Brewing

Steep 2.5 g per 200 ml at 95 °C for 3 to 4 minutes. At this ratio, a 1 kg bag yields approximately 400 portions – a useful baseline for programme planning.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Oolong tea leaves
• Format: 1 kg bulk loose leaf
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation
• Type: Oolong tea, single origin, loose leaf