Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Speaking on Taiwan tea, Li Shan Oolong Tea is the top level Taiwan Gao Leng oolong tea. The special phrase Gao Leng, 高冷(gāo lěng) in Chinese, means high and cold, refers to the environment at high altitudes and in low temperature. Li Shan tea trees are grown in this high and cold environment, making the tea leaf soft, thick with high content of pectin substances. This unique feature cannot be found on the teas grown in low altitude areas. Just as an old Chinese saying that human beings are shaped by the land around them. So are the tea trees.
By this token, growing of the tea trees, picking the fresh tea leaves, as well as processing of the tea all reply on the environment condition. The climate in Lishan Mountain makes Gao Leng Tea in a limited output. It is a remarkable tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A gorgeous Li Shan Oolong, this Nonpareil Taiwan Li Shan Oolong Tea from Teavivre! The aroma of the dry leaf is floral with notes of vegetation, and it maintains this fragrance once the tea is brewed.
I brewed this in my gaiwan, combining the first five infusions in my Li Shan Yixing mug (following a 15 second rinse).
The floral notes translate to the flavor nicely. It tastes floral but it isn’t an overly sharp floral tone. Orchid? There is a sweetness to the cup as well, and when I taste those sweet notes, honeysuckle immediately comes to mind but I do think I’m tasting more orchid here than honeysuckle.
As I continue to sip, I find that the flowery notes seem to become more complex. This is not as creamy as I would expect from a Li Shan. It has a thinned creamy taste and texture, it isn’t a heavy creaminess, more like a background note of something soft and silky.
However, as the tea cools slightly, I find that it becomes a little thicker and creamier, so if you’re one who really loves that creamy taste and texture of a green Oolong, it is worth the wait to allow this to cool for a few minutes. Your wait will be rewarded with a smooth and creamy tea!
This has some nutty tones to it, although it doesn’t have the roasty-toasty type of flavor to go along with it. Just a sweet, nutty character that sort of weaves it’s way in and out of the sip. In place of where I might normally taste the roasty-toasty flavors of a roasted Oolong, I taste more of a ‘cake-like’ sort of flavor that when combined with the floral tones of this tea, becomes a very interesting flavor, indeed. Imagine an orchid infused cream cake!
Another very enjoyable Oolong from Teavivre. If you’re looking for a top-notch Oolong, Teavivre is the place to go!
