Wulong: The Taiwanese Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
The story of tea in Taiwan is one of Wulong tea. Wulong tea leaves are oxidized more than green tea leaves, but less than black tea leaves. Wulong tea is also produced in the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong in the People’s Republic of China.
Terroirs (production areas) and cultivars (cultivated varieties of tea leaves similar to grape varieties in wine making) are important in Taiwan as they are in the People’s Republic of China.
Game Objectives:
1-Know Taiwanese Terroirs (Production Areas)
2-Know Taiwanese Cultivars (Cultivated varieties of tea leaves similar to grape varieties in winemaking)
3-Know Day 1 Production Methods
4-Know Day 2 Production Methods
5-Know Taiwanese Tea Brands
6-Reward: Drink some wulong tea and read about the Gong Fu Cha tea ceremony
Materials Needs:
-Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnais, and Hugo Américi
-index cards – large and small
-pens
Game 1: Know Taiwanese Terroirs (Production Areas)
The island of Taiwan has several large regions with subregions under them. On index cards, write the name of the main region on the front. On the back of the index cards, write the main characteristics of the main regions.
If a main region has a subregion, make separate index cards for the subregion. Write the name of the main region followed by the subregion. On the back of index card, write the characteristics of the subregion.
Quiz yourself on main regions and subregions till you know them three at a time.
The main regions and subregions in Taiwan follow:
-Nantou – main region
-Subregion: Mount Dong Ding
-Subregion: Mount Lin Xi
-District of Taipei – main region
-Subregion: Pingun
-Subregion: The Mucha Mountains
-Hsinchu – main region
-Chia Yi – main region
-Subregion: Ali Shan Mountain
-Subregion: Yu Shan Mountain
-Hualien – main region
-Subregion: Taitung
-Taichung: main region
-Subregion: Li Shan Mountain
Game 2: Know Taiwanese Cultivars (Cultivated varieties similar to grape varieties in wine making)
There are 5 main cultivars in Taiwan. Write the name of the cultivars on the front of an index card. On the back of the index card, write the characteristics of the cultivar in your own words.
Taiwan’s 5 cultivars follow:
-Qing Shin
-Si Ji Chun
-Cui Yu
-Jin Shuan
-Tie Guan Yin
Quiz yourself on the cultivars and their characteristics till you know them.
Game 3: Know Day 1 Production Methods for Taiwanese Wulong Tea
There are 6 steps in the production of Taiwanese wulong on the first day of production.
Write Day 1 on six index cards. Number and name the steps on the front of the index cards. On the back of the index cards, describe the step’s characteristics in your own words.
Quiz yourself on the Day 1 steps till you know them.
Game 4: Know Day 2 Production Methods for Wulong Tea
There are 6 steps in the production of Taiwanese wulong tea on the second day.
Write Day 2 on six index cards. Number and name the steps on the front of the index cards. On the back of the index cards, describe the step’s characteristics in your own words.
Quiz yourself on the Day 2 steps till you know them.
Game 5: Know the Taiwanese Wulong Tea Types.
Note the name of the tea type on the front of an index card. On the back of the index card, note the tea family (usually wulong), the name translation, alternative names if any, production area, harvest season, and cultivar.
Quiz yourself on the tea types till you know them three at a time.
It is usually easier to learn one characteristic at a time for the different tea types.
Game 6: Reward Once you have learned all the information in games 1 through 5, reward yourself with a pot of wulong tea and read about the gong fu cha tea ceremony in Tea: History Terroirts Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne et al.
Happy Playing!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
