O-TW-025
Alishan High Mountain Oolong
阿里山高山茶
High mountain ball-rolled oolong, from Alishan, Taiwan.
Oolong tea
Alishan High Mountain Oolong is strongest on smoothness, sweetness and aroma intensity. Typical tasting words: orchid, butter, peach, sweet pea. Commercial tea planting in Alishan expanded rapidly in the 1980s, pioneering the market for high mountain gaoshan styles in Taiwan. A cornerstone of modern Taiwanese tea appreciation, served universally in gaiwans or tasting sets to highlight brisk floral sweetness.
Also known as Ali Shan Gaoshan, Alishan Oolong and Ali Shan High Mountain.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Alishan, Taiwan
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Qingxin or Jin Xuan cultivar
- Harvest
- spring or winter flush
- Elevation
- high
- Oxidation
- 15 to 25%
- Roast
- very light
- Leaf
- rolled pellet
- Price band
- mid-range
- Availability
- common
- Ageing
- a little
- Forgiving to brew
- 4 of 5
- L-theanine
- moderate
Made by: sun withering, then indoor withering, then tossing, then kill-green, then cloth-wrapped ball rolling, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Alishan High Mountain Oolong carries a typical estimate of 40 mg of caffeine, within a range of 25 to 60 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 90 to 95 °C | 2 min, 3 min, 4 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6.5 g | 92 to 98 °C | Rinse, then 20 s, 20 s, 25 s, 35 s, 50 s, 70 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 2.5 g | Fridge | 8 to 12 hours |
Up to 8 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- morning
- relaxing
- social
- study_focus
Pairs with sushi, seafood and pastry. Milk: no. Iced: yes. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- O-TW-041Yu Shan Oolong
shares smoothness and sweetness - O-VN-047Vietnamese Oolong
shares sweetness and smoothness - O-TW-040Fushoushan Oolong
shares smoothness and sweetness - O-TW-026Lishan High Mountain Oolong
shares smoothness and sweetness - S-TW-013Orchid Oolong
shares sweetness and smoothness - O-TW-034Baozhong (Pouchong)
shares smoothness and aroma intensity
More: all oolong tea teas, or filter the whole drawer.