Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea
US$6
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Flavor: Herbal, sweet aroma. Vibrant garden fresh flavor. Smooth, substantial, creamy texture. Satisfying, herbal finish.
Garden: This batch of tea is from Ruifeng Village in Meishan Township, which lies in the northwest corner of 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, medium batch, Ruifeng, Taiwan. Fall 2023.
Elevation: 1300m
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This fall batch of Alishan High Mountain Oolong offers fresh herbal notes, a smooth, full-bodied texture, with a subtle savory herb finish There is enough fresh green to give it the notorious High Mountain Oolong flavor, but it is more full-bodied and mellower than a spring tea character. It's both soothing and refreshing.
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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 halfway through their curing process, and make large volume orders. In short, High Mountain 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 amazing. Sweet, floral, light, makes me think of morning dew and foggy waterfalls. The moment the tea touches my lips I can’t help but get pulled immediately into the presence where the taste and sensations the tea create collide, simultaneously filling me with tranquility and energy. I can make no guarantees as to what you’ll experience when you drink it, others I’ve shared it with seemed like it wasn’t that impressive, it is a more mild tea… I will say I do not drink sugary beverages, so I’m very able to pick up the sweet notes. But to me, to my tastes, this is straight up magic in a cup. Not just because of how they go from tiny little pearls to a full gaiwan packed with leaves (with full stems that have like, structure to them and it’s mind boggling that they managed to get that small and then that big again. It’s sorcery) but the flavor of the tea, and its ability to force me into presence with every sip… it’s worth every penny and probably more.
And while I do it for every tea session I have, mentally thanking and sending well wishes to the people whose work has brought this magic into my hands, I do it with every single pour of this tea from my gaiwan. Every time I smell the lid, I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to buy this tea, and thanks to everyone who participated in its creation.
Alishan Oolong is one of my favorite types of tea, and this Alishan is a great one. The leaves are beautiful, the taste is warm and inviting, and it holds up wonderfully over several brews.
The tea was delivered quickly. I enjoy the almondy taste of the High Mountain Oolong.
I am new to tea ceremonies and I am loving every minute of this beautiful time I get to spend savoring and in meditation. A few things I love about this tea - it comes from small farms and you can tell the care and love that goes into this tea as the leaves open beautifully like a flower. The taste is smooth and sweet even after many 5-6 steeps. I am so happy to have tried this tea. Thank you for this lovely gift.
I'm new to higher end teas, so everything I've ordered from Eco Cha has been excellent. I read various reviews before placing an order with them and found that people are quite favorable to the company for products at all price points. I was not let down and have ordered from them twice now as I continue to learn more about these teas.