Batch #50 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club starts off 2020 with a freshly harvested Alishan High Mountain Oolong Winter Tea from our ongoing source in Meishan Township. This very small batch of tea was their final day of winter harvest. The leaves were not yet fully mature, and offer a fresh, distinctly aromatic and complex flavor profile.

The brewed leaves offer a fresh foresty aromatic bouquet with mild savory undertones. The brewed tea has a delicate texture, yet carries a complex, heady finish with flavor notes that are difficult to pinpoint. Subtle savory herb notes with a touch of sweetness that could be floral but not overly perfumey. It's a particularly satisfying profile overall. It has some of the classic winter High Mountain Oolong character that resembles the winter tea that was prized 20-30 years ago, but is rare nowadays.

When we saw these freshly picked leaves being processed, we had a sense that they would resemble Dong Pian Tea, with their young stage of growth yet substantial thick feel to the fresh leaf. This is what sets this batch of tea apart from the more standard harvest that preceded it. It's also why the farmer determined this very minimal yield to be worth the cost and effort to harvest it.

We feel that this fresh, vibrant, character with subtle nuances is a great way to begin the New Year. We look forward to hearing your experience of these hearty yet delicate leaves that were the newest growth from the winter season. 

Here's to a wonderful year of tea explorations to come!

Let us know what you think about this batch of Alishan High Mountain Winter Tea, and also please post any questions you may have about this month's edition of the Eco-Cha Tea Club! 

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