Cuifeng High Mountain

翠峰高山乌龙

Harvest
November 2025

Origin
Hehuanshan, Taiwan

Cui Feng translates into “Emerald Peak”, it is the name of one of the highest mountain peaks located in Nantou, Taiwan. Cui Feng is located close to the famous Li Shan 梨山 (Pear Mountain), most of the time, teas from Cui Feng would be categorized under Li Shan. 

I visited Mr. Li’s tea farm in Cui Feng in January 2024. We drove from Sun Moon Lake in Nantou, to Cui Feng, a 3 hour drive. I remember vividly ascending in narrow switchback roads up the mountain for what seems like forever, it seemed like we were driving up in into the clouds. The undulating mountains in the background were breathtaking. 

When we arrived at Mr. Li’s small tea farm at the peak of Cui Feng, I was struck by how steep the hills were, and the amazing view at more than 8500 ft elevation. 

Cui Feng High Mountain oolong has a very distinct vibrancy and brightness. This is usually referred to as the “cold fragrance”, a unique and special fragrance only found in very high elevation Taiwanese oolongs.

This is an exceptionally sweet year for this Taiwanese oolong. The first infusion tastes like dissolved sugar more than anything else! We can attribute this to the dramatic height of the mountain, where the difference in temperature between day and night is drastic. These tea plants work desperately to produce sugar for themselves, and this is what gives this tea such a saccharine brightness. 

By the second infusion the leaves have fully opened and a refreshing salinity, as well as a structured mouthfeel, has emerged. Its sugaryness plays a supporting role as complexity increases, coming forward at the finish alongside a minty tingling sensation. 

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Brewing guide