Longfengxia High Mountain Oolong Tea

Many of our followers will have noticed that we have a particular fondness for this mesmerizing sub-terroir of the Shanlinxi range, and rightfully so! Simply put, we feel Longfenxia teas offer one of the best quality / price ratio in Taiwanese high-mountain teas. This is even more so a fact with the new lower price revision of this season. This being said, spring 2022 was a season of transition for us. Many gardens have suffered hardships with the past season’s challenges and market shrinkage due to the pandemic. This was unfortunately the case with Mr. Chen’s operations – our past collaborator – who has ceased to produce tea in Longfengxia. We spent many days since last winter meeting with other producers and have gone back to someone we regularly visit and have bought tea from in the early days of this site (10 years ago). This multi-generational family operation is now transiting to the younger generation with good improvements in soil management which is reflected in the cup. The marvellous yellow-gold colour of this season’s Longfengxia already announces that we are in for a treat! Then, the wild and flowery aroma enthrals you to take a sip and experience a full bodied, thick yet smooth liqueur where crisp balsamic notes with a hint of sweetness linger on and on. As per our usual habits, Lot 1222 was from the second day of production. This tea is very generous, in the cup and in the number of infusions one can extract from these beautifully crafted leaves. It came as no sprite when it sell out very quickly. Our winter Lot 1286 from the same garden and producer took a bit more time to arrive since the gardens bushes were pruned down in late August, giving us a winter production consisting of smaller leaves that are packed with rejuvenated vigour. Longfengxia designates the area in the higher levels of the Shanlinxi terroir of Nantou County. It is very often referred to for its spectacular scenery where the tea gardens cling to the mountain on near vertical vertiginous slopes. Shanlinxi oolong distinguishes itself from other Gao Shan oolongs in that it features clearly defined balsam notes that make it particularly appealing to the palate and nose. It is a must for all high mountain enthusiasts and we must warn you… it is very addictive!