Nonpareil Taiwan Li Shan Oolong Tea

Li Shan oolong is considered the top level of Taiwan Gao Leng oolong tea. Gao Leng in Chinese means “high and cold” and refers to the specific high-mountain environment at which the tea is grown; Li Shan trees are grown in this high-altitude, low-temperature environment, resulting in soft, thick leaves with rich nutrients. An old Chinese saying tells that human beings are shaped by the land around them - and so are the tea trees. This lends itself to the realization that the entire crafting process, from the growing to the picking and then the actual processing, rely on the environmental conditions. This in turn means that Gao Leng tea from Lishan Mountain is truly remarkable.

	Cup Method		Chinese Gongfu Method
	Teacup: 12oz / 355ml		Gaiwan: 3.8oz / 110ml
	212℉ / 100℃		212℉ / 100℃
	3 Teaspoons / 5g Tea		7g Tea
	Brewing time: 3 - 5 mins		8 steeps: rinse, 25s,25s,30s,40s,60s,90s,120s,180s
			Rinse time is around 5 seconds

Fushoushan Farm is in Lishan at an elevation higher than 2000m, meaning that this farm is wholly within the high-mountain climate. Tea trees grow more slowly in colder weather, resulting in smaller and softer leaves that have a higher concentration of nutritious substances.

The farm stands along the southern mountainside of Lishan Mountain, surrounded by tea trees and elegant flowers.

Fushoushan Farm surrounded by clouds

Calla lily in the tea garden

It is a universal rule about aromatic substances in tea, that new buds have higher content than old leaf, spring teas contains more than summer teas, and high mountain tea is higher than low altitude tea. This is the reason that new harvested high mountain tea has strong aroma.

Taiwan High Mountain Tea

In Taiwan, teas planted above 800m are referred to as High Mountain Tea，and include types like Ali Shan Oolong Teafrom 1000-1500m, Ali Shan LuZhu, Shan Ling Xi starting at 1600m, Li Shan at elevations higher than 2000m, and thisDa Yun Lin High Mountain Cha Wang Oolong Tea from as high as 2500m as well.

The Difference between High Mountain Tea and Low Altitude Tea

In Taiwan, teas grown below 800m are notably different from high-mountain teas due to effects from the geological features and climate. Taiwan is a mountainous island where more than two-thirds of the total area is found in the mountains, meaning that the land has abundant fresh water and excellent drainage - and also that the climate can be complicated. The mountainous geography allows for both the monsoon and high mountain climates to coexist; the air temperature drops about 6 degrees for every kilometer above sea level, so therefore, these mountains are cool year-round. This in turn causes tea to grow more slowly, and taken on a softer, elegant aroma with a noticeably floral taste. The unique geography also allows distinctive nutritious substances to form in the tea, a trait which low-altitude teas lack.