Alishan High Mountain Jin Xuan Oolong Tea
US$4
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Flavor: Creamy, pastry aroma. Smooth, buttery, vegetal character. Pronounced milky finish.
Garden: This tea is grown and processed in Ruifeng Village, Meishan Township, in the Alishan tea producing region of Taiwan. Alishan is the southernmost High Mountain Tea producing region, with the Tropic of Cancer running through it. Being further south, it gets more direct sunlight, combined with almost daily afternoon fog that rises from the valleys below. These farms are at 1100-1400m elevation, providing the ideal growing conditions for this produce.
Harvest: Hand-picked, small batch, Ruifeng, Taiwan. Fall 2023.
Elevation: 1100m
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This fall's batch of Alishan High Mountain Jin Xuan Oolong is similar to the previous summer's harvest in character. It is a distinct aromatic profile, with a smooth balanced body and finish. It clearly has the buttery/milky character that has popularized this strain of tea. The brewed tea has a "butteriness" from start to finish. It's a very friendly introduction to High Mountain Tea that is bound to please newbies as well as experienced drinkers of Taiwan's finest.
Jin Xuan Oolong is a hybrid cultivar produced by the Tea Research Extension Station (TRES) in Taiwan and is registered as Tai Cha #12 (台茶12號). It was designed to possess a stronger immunity to naturally occurring "pests" in the regional climate of Taiwan while producing a somewhat larger leaf that increases yield. It is known for its buttery or milk flavor qualities and has a milder astringency and smoother texture.
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The source of this tea is a very reputable wholesale source for tea merchants throughout Taiwan and mainland China. Their tea is often sold before it is finished being made. We have seen professional competition players visit the factory during harvest time, assess the daily batches of tea half way through their curing process, and make large volume orders. In short, High Mountain Jin Xuan Oolong Tea from this source is some of the best of its type on the market.
We befriended the family who runs this factory a few years ago, and have been sourcing our Lishan High Mountain Oolong Tea from them since then. They cooperate with the neighboring tea farmers in their production methods. They purchase quality fertilizer and set guidelines for the farmers to follow in their farm management. They then purchase the raw produce in full from the farmers and process the tea leaves themselves, and handle the sales to wholesale and retail customers. The farmers are often also the craftsmen who process the leaves.
This arrangement is sustainable in several ways. It relieves the farmers of the pressures of investing in the cost of processing their produce. The farmers are able to focus on farm management alone, and not have to worry about promoting and selling their tea. It is far more stable in terms of steady income on a seasonal basis for the farmers, and their lives are made easier as a result of this business relationship.
This region is also a more sustainable agricultural resource than other High Mountain Tea producing regions, due to the fact that the farms are located in a previously developed residential area. Tea producers in Meishan Township have repurposed their land resources to meet the growing demand of high quality tea. This has significantly less impact on the environment than clearing previously undeveloped land for tea production.
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Mug: 8g tea in 300ml 100°C water. Steep for 4 minutes. Re-steep. Adjust to taste.
Cold Brew: Use 5g of tea per liter of water. Brew tea at room temperature for 2-3 hours, and enjoy. Or you can put your cold brew bottle in the fridge to brew overnight and be ready to drink the next day.
Gong Fu: We recommend a 1:15 leaf to water ratio, so 10g of tea for 150mL of water. Use boiling temperature water and brew for about 50 seconds. Increase brewing time with each successive brew. The leaves can be brewed 5-6 times.
It’s my first time trying Jin Xuan tea. Very nice and smooth. Really like the aroma and the taste. Will definitely become one of my favorite teas.
Shipping was incredibly fast; received in one week, and from overseas, no less. Very impressed with the quality of the tea, the price, and the delivery!
Disclaimer: I'm a long time high mountain oolong snob. The summer 2023 Alishan High Mtn Oolong was fabulous. The year and season are crucial. I noticed less than 5 stars on some of the other years. No way to know until you try. This one is definitely worth your time and money!
One of the best, flavoured tea. I adore it
This type of tea has been my favorite since I first visited Taiwan almost two decades ago, and it is rare to find tea of this amazing quality in the US. I love the flavor, color, and aroma of high mountain Alishan oolong and it is what I drink on most days
The aromatic notes I get from this tea are predominantly sweet: a whiff of coconut milk, a ripe peach or pear and a buttered almond cake in later steeps. It is absolutely delicious and definitely a very good value for money. I happily call it my morning pleasure.