Li Shan - Pear Mountain - Oolong Tea

The second-highest of all high mountain teas in Taiwan. Lishan gets its name from the pear orchards that were once the main feature in this area. The terroir here is absolutely unique as far as tea farming goes. Tea bushes are exposed to a year-round pattern of strong morning sun, followed by mist-shrouded afternoons. Temperature differences between day and night can at times fluctuate by up to 20 degrees Celsius. Due to the elevation, winters can get bitterly cold, with snowfall not uncommon. During this time, everything here, including the tea plants, go into dormancy. All these stress factors combined make farming difficult, but they are also the exact reason why tea plants here develop such an impressive depth of flavour. Together with Dayuling, this part of Taiwan is the hardest to reach among all our sourcing areas, taking a full day from Taipei going up winding and foggy roads. However, the journey is majestic and it is well worth getting to the end destination where the nature is pristine, clean and nearly untouched by civilization. This oolong is particularly suitable for gongfu style brewing as it really opens up with multiple infusions.

Overview

Origin
● Harvest: 2nd week May 2021
● Location: Songbo, Taichung County, Taiwan
● Altitude: 2000-2200m
● Cultivar: Qing Xin

Processing
● Method: hand-picked
● Pluck: bud plus 1-3 leaves
● Oxidation: 20-30%
● Roast: none

Tasting notes

Appearance
● Dry leaf: tightly rolled pellets of similar size, dark fir green colour
● Wet leaf: unfurls fully, lightly bruised edges
● Liquor: goldenrod colour, yellow-orange hue

Aroma
● Dry leaf: wax gourd, pineapple, guava
● Wet leaf: nectarine, lemon juice
● Empty cup: raspberry

Flavour
● Taste: wildflowers, croissant
● Aftertaste: artichoke, cucumber
● Mouthfeel: smooth, thick, medium astringency

Brewing tips

The following tips are for your guidance.
Please feel free to adjust to taste.

Gongfu style
● 5-6g per 100ml at 90-95°C (195-205°F)
● 5-10 secs to rinse
● 20-30 secs for 1st steep
● add 10-15 secs for each re-steep
● 5-7 steeps total

Western style
● 1.2-1.5g per 100ml at 95°C (205°F)
● 2-3 mins for 1st steep
● add 30-60 secs for each re-steep
● 1-3 steeps total