Batch 121 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club  is a Lishan High Mountain Oolong Tea, harvested in early August. This second flush of Qing Xin Oolong strain grown at 2000m elevation represents the "gao leng", (which loosely translates as "alpine") style of tea from the northern borders of Taiwan's High Mountain Tea growing regions.

This plot of tea located in Taiwan's highest elevation tea growing region got plenty of rain during the growing season, mixed with days of strong sun and cool, crisp nights — producing a leaf material that is both substantial and tender as result of the fast growing summer cycle.

The leaf material is noticeably thicker and fully in tact - displaying the substantial composition that represents the high elevation climate. The stems are thicker and shorter than Li Shan's lower lying cousins. Given the tender new growth, the stems are still supple and more conducive to being thoroughly dried while maintaining their vibrant, fresh quality. These leaves were lightly oxidized, with sufficient solar withering to transform the raw green vegetal qualities into sweeter, more complex notes. This batch of Li Shan Tea offers a delicately sweet floral aroma and a light, vibrant flavor profile with hints of honeysuckle, sage and Asian pear.

The appearance of the brewed tea is bright, limpid golden with good transparency. Transparency of the brewed tea is an indicator that the moisture was depleted uniformly and thoroughly, which fixes the compounds and prolongs shelf life. The texture is smooth and substantial, with a nice soft blend of floral and savory notes, with just a touch of sweet fruity quality.

The sweet fruity quality is the result of significant oxidation in the leaves, which is evident in the reddening of the stems and edges of the leaves. It is important for oxidation to be uniform, and not to over-expose them to sunlight or tumble them too much. This results in "splotchiness" in the appearance of the brewed leaves, indicating that they were slightly damaged in their processing. The leaves above are still mostly deep green, with watercolor-like reddening in the right parameters. This offers a balanced and clean flavor profile.

Check out the tasting video for the full details on this batch of tea!

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