This high mountain oolong is produced at elevations over 4,000 feet on Shan Lin Xi, a bamboo- and cedar-forested peak in central Taiwan. The area has been widely acclaimed since its founding in the early 1980s due to both the deep experience of its tea makers—the renowned epicenter of Tung Ting, Lugu Township, lies just below—and its unique terroir. Shan Lin Xi’s dynamic terrain plays off the conditions of intermittent sunshine and cool fog, resulting in slower leaf growth on the plants and encouraging the tea’s distinctive fragrance to develop. Production is complex: after hand harvesting, the leaves are spread out for a brief solar withering, then brought inside to continue this process for several hours. Bruising, piling, heating and steaming follow; dozens of rounds of shaping and drying occur next. After about a day and half of continuous labor and monitoring, the tea is ready. This lot was picked on April 27th, the second day of harvest for our producer Mr. Chen, and the sunny morning yielded a phenomenal batch. His final heating step also distinguishes this high mountain oolong, which helps to stabilize the flavor and extend its shelf life. When brewed, the dark emerald-green balls unfurl with heady scents of hot cream, buttered rice and lilies in the August sun; its richly green, floral flavor hints at the spectacular terroir. Infuse multiple times to explore the velvety, lip-smacking texture that evolves with each steep. Country: TaiwanRegion: Nantou CountyCharacter: lily, pine, butteryHarvest Season: Spring 2026 2 oz Click here to order a small sample size of this tea. -- 200º F 3-5 grams, 2-3 minute steep ¼-⅓ full, 10-20 second steep
