Alishan High Mountain

This fresh, winter harvest oolong is from a small, high altitude tea farm in the towering Alishan Mountain range of Taiwan. The varietal is indigenous to the area, and favours the cool climate of the mountains. Here, the trees are covered in cloud and mist all year round, producing a tea that is vibrant, full bodied and sweet.

These robust, wakame-like leaves reanimate beautifully under water, revealing their impressive stems and structure as they unfurl. Eventually, it is as though an entire tea tree has bloomed in the gaiwan.

Its taste balances the sweet and savoury qualities of the Qingxin varietal; a flavour that feels woven together by warm and intriguing spice notes. Hints of cinnamon, clove, and cardamom are complimented by a tingling "high alpine" sensation at the back of the palate. The warmer notes fade after a couple infusions, but its taste stays very integrated. In a long and elegant finish, later infusions remind us of lilies and rainwater.