Lishan High Mountain Mi Xiang Red Oolong Tea, Lot 630

This is a unique tea in more ways than one as its name will suggest. What is a red oolong, you may ask? The maker of this tea insisted that we name it that way, and he has a point: This tea is produced essentially like a fragrant high-mountain oolong would be. The only difference is the oxidation level of the leaves which is more accentuated bringing out the tangy stone fruit notes (peach, cherry) which dominate with hints of fresh vanilla and wintergreen freshness in the finish. It definitely remains a fragrant tea with its palette of sweet alpine meadow blooms and wild honey flowers. Yes, there are distinct notes of wild high-mountain Taiwan honey in this tea which strongly suggest this is a (very rare) high-mountain bug-bitten tea! This is also noticeable in the thicker yet suave body with very supple and silky tannins which hint at more amplitude with time as this tea is allowed to mellow, if one has the patience to wait! There is definitely good material in this tea which makes it a pleasure to drink now and/or later if allowed to age properly. This tea also hat was well showcased by our local black tea producer friend who was hired to produce this tea for a grower in the Hehuanshan range, near Lishan village. If you indulge in the pleasures of fragrant high-mountain oolongs, you must try this tea; if you indulge in Taiwan Black teas, you must try this tea for its expansive fruity character and; it you seek the authenticity of good craftsmanship and excellence that only passionate tea makers can instill in finished tea leaves, this is a must (or we will be happy to keep it for ourselves!). Finally, this tea is best enjoyed in gongfu style settings.

Additional Information:

Style of tea: Red Oolong Tea

Picking Date: September 2017

Oxydation level: High

Baking Level: None

Terroir: Lishan

Administrative Region: Nantou County

Picking Style Hand Picked

Cultivar(s) Used: Qing Xin

Garden Elevation: 1600 m