High Mountain Alishan Honey Red Oolong

This High Mountain Alishan Honey Red Oolong Tea is a beautifully crafted and heavily fermented oolong that seamlessly blends the bold qualities of black tea with the delicate aromatic complexity of oolong. The tea features tightly rolled, dark reddish-brown leaves that unfurl gracefully during brewing, revealing a sweet and beautiful amber tea.

The tea has a rich aroma of honey and toasted sesame, with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel that coats the palate. Its flavor is naturally sweet, offering notes of ripe persimmon and honey, followed by a floral orange blossom and a subtle nutty aftertaste that lingers in the mouth. The tea's signature sweetness comes from being "bug-bitten" by tea jassid insects that thrive in the Alishan Mountains. Their nibbles initiate a natural oxidation process, giving the tea leaves their distinctive honey-like flavor that sets this tea apart.

The famous Alishan Mountain, located in Chiayi County, is celebrated for its high-altitude tea plantations, which sit above 1,000 meters. The cool climate, abundant mist, clean air, and limited sunlight create ideal growing conditions, resulting in tender tea leaves with lower catechin levels (reducing bitterness) and higher theanine content (enhancing sweetness). This exceptional environment elevates the tea’s natural sweetness, clean flavor, and aromatic complexity, making the High Mountain Alishan teas so highly sought after. 

Gongfu Brewing Method:
To experience the full depth of this tea, use 4 grams of tea leaves in a 90ml gaiwan. Heat water to 204°F (96°C), fill the gaiwan, and let the leaves steep for 45 seconds, allowing them to unfurl. The tea leaves should be 80–90% opened. For the first infusion, refill the gaiwan and steep for just 15 seconds to produce a sweet, amber colored tea. With the leaves now fully opened, be sure not to over-steep to preserve the tea's delicate balance and avoid bitterness. Brew this way with a 15-second steep time up to 4 times. After the 4th infusion, steep for 5-7 seconds longer than the previous infusions to enjoy two more infusions of this tea. 

This High Mountain Alishan Honey Red Oolong Tea is a testament to Taiwan’s exceptional environment and the masterful craftsmanship of its producers. Although this tea can be enjoyed any time of year, its highly satisfying and cozy flavor profile, creamy texture, and sweet honeyed notes make it an especially delightful tea to cozy up with during the cold fall and winter months. 

 Origin: Alishan, Taiwan

Notes: Honey, Toasted Sesame, Persimmon, Cream, Orange Blossom