AliShan Oolong Spring 2016

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AliShan is a mountainous region that has been gaining a lot of attention in Taiwan the last few decades as a land that consistently produces quality oolong. Finding the perfect spot to plant tea is an endeavor: the elevation, exposure to sunlight, yearly average weather patterns, the condition of the soil, and a dozen other intangible factors all affect the garden’s potential to yield exceptional leaf. Take a sip of this tea and we think you will agree that AliShan has that special quality.

Some gardens choose high yield tea cultivars to maximize harvests on the limited arable land area, but we’ve decided to aim higher and set down QingXing plants; these are prized among drinkers for their bold and nuanced flavor, and notorious among growers as a fickle leaf that is slow to mature and vulnerable to the elements.

This newest batch comes from the Spring flush of our AliShan. This leaf is intensely floral, which might lead some to mistake it as a peaky tea. This year we detected citrus fruit blossoms and lilac. The first two cups are nasal, but the third, fourth and fifth allow the deeper and round characteristics of the liquor to shine in their own right. The mouthfeel is creamy and comforting, with a nice taper that recalls tropical fruit.