Dragon and Phoenix Valley Grand Cru Oolong Tea 100g
Dragon and Phoenix Valley Grand Cru Oolong Tea, is an exceptional tea from Shan Lin Xi, an area famed for producing some of the world’s best oolong teas. Grown at an altitude of 1,800m, the large leaves produce a bright and smooth liquor with wild floral notes and a citrus edge.
Origin: Nantou County, Taiwan
Elevation: Shan Lin Xi, 1,800m
Cultivar: Qing Xin 'Green Heart' (青心烏龍)
Shan Lin Xi Long Feng Xia Oolong (杉林溪龍鳳峽烏龍茶) is a truly exceptional oolong from Nantou County of Taiwan. It is grown around Shan Lin Xi mountainous area of the county. Shan Lin Xi literally translates as Pine Forest Stream but the most commonly accepted translation is Sun Link Sea when referring to this particular location. Situated high up in the mountains, at an altitude of over 1,800m, this area is renowned for producing some of the best oolongs in the world. This tea was picked in early November 2024.
The name Long Feng Xia translates roughly as Dragon Phoenix Gorge and refers to the best and highest location of the Shan Lin Xi growing area. The tea is made from Qing Xin Green Heart (青心) cultivar that is a very popular choice for High Mountain Oolongs of Taiwan. It is hand picked and processed by the Chen family, who have been growing tea in the mountains of Taiwan for two generations.
This Shan Lin Xi Long Feng Xia Oolong is definitely an addictive and captivating tea. It is very lightly processed, with a zero baking level and low (about 20%) oxidation. The tightly rolled green leaves have a lovely fresh floral and green smell that is a great sign of things to come!
When brewed, the lovely large leaves start unfurling, releasing an aroma of wild flowers. The liquor is a pale green colour and very bright. It is easy to tell that it is a High Mountain Oolong, the taste is extremely clean, fresh and crisp. The flavours predominantly are of wild exotic flowers, with hints of greener flowers such as dandelions on the top notes. As expected, this Shan Lin Xi Long Feng Xia Oolong is not in the slightest astringent, with a delicate aftertaste and a citrus and slightly tangy edge. There is a lingering and very pleasing aftertaste that makes you want to have more of this beautiful tea.
We suggest brewing Shan Lin Xi Long Feng Xia Oolong at 90°C for 3-5 minutes according to your taste. It can be brewed 5 or more times depending on your taste preferences. To get the most out this tea, consider using a gaiwan or a traditional clay pot to benefit from the complexity of flavours from repeated multiple infusions.
Brewing Directions:
You can use any kind of tea pot, but clay tea pot suits much better.
Warm up the teapot with the boiling water, put 3 grams of tea, and pour a small amount of the boiling water into the tea and pour out, then pour 250 ml of boiling water and cover the tea pot for three minutes before serving.
Boiling temperature – 85-95°C (185-203°F). You can use this amount of tea 3 to 4 times.
The tea leaves come unrolled for full flavor.
Additional information
This is one of the traditional ways of brewing. Depending on individual gustatory preferences you can you can vary brewing time from 35s to 5 minutes.
You can also use the Taiwanese traditional way of brewing - spilling, using Gaiwan, and brewing for 3-5 seconds each time.
Please note that it is natural tea with a high content of active elements, including caffeine and minerals, and some unusual feelings could appear. In that case, we recommend decreasing the quantity of dry leaves and brewing time.