Lishan Tie Guan Yin "Goddess Drop" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2015

As rare as it gets, this is on par with the highest elevation and quality we can offer from our Jade Oolong collection.  The tea tree itself not only grows in a extremely high altitude, but the Tie Guan Yin varietal grown at such high altitudes is very rare since harvest quantity is very low (compared to Qing Xin varietal). 

Traditionally most of the High Mountain Oolongs grown at Lishan (Dayling and Fushoushan) are Qin Xin Oolong varietal, but this lovely tea was made from Hong Xin Wai Wei Tao, the varietal that is mostly utilized to process as traditional Tie Guan Yin (鐵觀音). The result is remarkable, in that it offers an absolutely unique and eye-opening experience to Jade Oolong tea lovers.  It has a mellow yet complex layered body that separates it from a Qing Xin Li Shan Jade Oolong.

With the best environment and the most interesting varietal possible, this is one of the most exclusive teas in the market.  We were lucky to obtain even a very limited amount, and we sincerely invite anyone who would like to explore a new world of tea to join us, with this Lishan Tie Guan Yin.

Harvest:  Spring 2015 / 春 貳零壹伍

Varietal: Hong Xin Wai Wei Tao / 紅心歪尾桃

Elevation:  2600 M / 貳仟肆佰 公尺

Region:  Diaoqiaotou  / 吊橋頭

Oxidation Level:  20% / 分之 廿

Roast Level:  0 / 無

 Creamy, sweet, with powerful qi and thick body!  It has the unique green TGY taste that one finds in Anxi Tie Guan Yin's but with such a uniquely Taiwanese High Mountain feeling.

  Just magic.  Tea comes on soft and light then emerges strong and complex.  The grape qualities are highly sophisticated.  Aftertaste that is wine-like...kind of...  The Li Shan character is in the foreground while the TGY lingers.  One of my all time favorites.

 As an old dog who thought Jade Tie Guan Yin is just some kind of commercial campaign for low quality Tie Guan Yin, this tea changes that aspect totally. At the beginning this tea will have a pleasant scent of almond, but immediately It offers a fruit note just like Qing Xin Oolong does. But rather than Qing Xin's "mango-ish" character, this tea compose itself more  "grape-ish" thanks to its varietal. The after taste contains a joyful combination of sugar cane and a bit tangerine. If there is any tea that could make people closer to heaven, an old dog will certainly say this is the one.