Jin Xuan
Also known as Milk Oolong, TTES No. 12, Taiwan No. 12, Nai Xiang, Golden Daylily
A tea plant variety bred by Taiwan's Tea Research and Extension Station and named Taiwan Tea No. 12 in 1981; today it is one of the most widely grown tea plants in Taiwan. Oolong made from it is light and creamy with a natural milky note – there is no milk in it. Jin Xuan is grown in Taiwan and also in northern Thailand, for example around Doi Mae Salong.
Taste
Light, creamy and floral, with a natural milky note
How we brew it
95 °C, 5 g per 100 ml. Several infusions, starting at 20 seconds.
Our personal recommendation – adjust it to your taste.
Cultural background
The milky note of Jin Xuan is subtle. Some producers therefore add flavouring – sometimes artificial – especially to cheaper teas, and sell them as "milk oolong". Good sellers say whether their tea is natural or flavoured; flavoured leaves smell strongly of milk even when dry.
Where to drink it
No places on the map yet.
Sources
For everything above except our personal notes.
- National Museum of Taiwan History, Taiwan Cultural Memory Bank – Taiwan tea cultivar: Taiwan Tea No. 12 (in Chinese)
- Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan – New tea cultivar Taiwan Tea No. 25, by the Tea and Beverage Research Station (2024, in Chinese)
- Jin Xuan tea – Wikipedia
- Tea From Taiwan (tea company, Taichung) – JinXuan Milk Oolong Tea