be coolalso written se zhong It is an inexpensive type of oolong tea produced in Anxi County of Fujian Province in China. Anxi County is famous for being the origin of Tie Guan Yin Oolong (also known as Iron Goddess of Mercy), a delicious but very expensive variety of oolong tea. Se chung is not a particular variety of oolong, but rather a class of different oolongs, encompassing all oolongs produced in Anxi County except Tie Guan Yin. The name chung means “colorful variety,” which is appropriate given the diverse nature of these oolongs.
Why se chung teas are a good deal?
The fame and recognition of Tie Guan Yin has resulted in the other oolongs produced in Anxi County being virtually ignored, not only by everyday tea drinkers but also by many tea connoisseurs. There is much less information about se zhong available on the web: Google searches return approximately 40 times as many pages for Tie Guan Yin. As a result of ignoring these oolongs, their prices are very low. Se chung is often considered a “cheap” tea, with the implication that its low price equates to low quality.
However, humans have a well-studied tendency to attribute higher quality to goods purchased at a higher price. It is my personal belief, based on sampling a number of se chung and tie guan yin oolongs, that se chung teas are grossly undervalued and offer an extraordinarily good deal to price-conscious tea buyers.
Se chung oolongs have certain aroma and flavor aspects that closely resemble Tie Guan Yin. Certain varieties may appeal to tea drinkers looking for a cheaper alternative to Tie Guan Yin, while others are likely to appeal to oolong enthusiasts looking to explore new teas with unique aroma and flavor qualities.
Some varieties of Se Chung:
Se chung comes in different varieties, each of which is grown from a particular cultivar of the tea plant. Each of these cultivars has its own unique characteristics, resulting in a different aroma, flavor, and leaf shape.
- Huang Jin Gui, meaning Golden Osmanthus: Although scented teas, produced by scenting tea leaves with osmanthus flowers, are popular in China, this tea has been developed to have a scent that naturally resembles osmanthus flowers, even though it has not been scented with any flowers.
- Mao Xie, meaning hairy crab: This oolong tea has strongly serrated leaves covered in fine hairs, resulting in a finished leaf that sometimes resembles a miniature crab.
- Benshan – Named for a mountain in Anxi, this tea is often described as being very similar to Tie Guan Yin, to the point that some tea drinkers struggle to distinguish between the two teas.
- Qilan, meaning deep orchid: This type of oolong is often produced in a dark, more fully oxidized style, resulting in a dark, sweet cup of tea with a nutty aroma. It is also available in greener forms that are light and floral, with an orchid-like aroma, the flower that gives this tea its name.
Each of these types of se zhong oolong is available in different forms, with different levels of oxidation, and different levels of roasting. Less oxidized and less roasted teas are lighter in color and result in a richly aromatic cup of tea. Roasted teas and more fully oxidized teas are darker. The more heavily oxidized teas are a bit more like black tea.
Generic se zhong:
Many tea companies sell generic se chung, not identified as a particular variety. These teas are sometimes an unnamed variety or blends of similar varieties. These teas can be extraordinarily inexpensive and offer great deals.
