Tashan "Spring Rhythm" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2016
Tashan "Spring Rhythm" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2016 Tashan "Spring Rhythm" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2016 Tashan "Spring Rhythm" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2016 Tashan "Spring Rhythm" Jade Oolong Tea - Spring 2016
$ 11.50

Tashan in Chinese character means "Tower Mountain," but nobody knows how it came to be called by such a name.  The Tashan area has has two mountains which are consider to be sacred by the indigenous Tsou people. They believe that after their ancestors died, the spirits of those who lived a virtuous life would sojourn to the "Big Tashan" (大塔山), and that the spirits of the immoral would inhabit "Small Tashan" (小塔山) for eternity. 

 

This region was one of the earliest high mountain tea growing regions in Taiwan, and experiences extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.  This temperature hardiness gives the tea a strong character, which makes this tea a must-have for this season's jade oolong collection. With the special character created by the wonderful climate this spring, this tea, has the mix of winter and spring character, but with an added uniqueness and full-bodied complexity. 

 

 

Harvest:  Spring 2016 / 春 貳零壹陸

Varietal:  Qing Xin Oolong / 青心烏龍

Elevation:  1200 M / 仟貳佰 公尺

Region: Tashan / 塔山

Oxidation Level:  25% / 分之 廿伍

Roast Level:  0 / 無

 

 

 This is like drinking fresh fruit and flowers... sweet, but not too sweet, floral and vegetal but only enough to develop and add complexity.  Thick in the mouth and tongue and goes 10 steeps easily.  This is ultra pleasurable tea with no downsides to it!

 

 Tashan Beautiful sweet rich buttery aroma with initial crisp fresh taste. After a few steeps it gets that mind clearing rejuvenating quality. Overall it is floral and smooth with some grassiness. Longer steeps were so full flavored and delicious. I used 6 grams in a large gaiwan.

 

 As an old dog that has numerous jade oolong so far (friendly reminder, dog should not drink tea), this Tashan Jade Oolong was selected for its robust character thanks to this spring's interesting weather condition. This tea delivers a character of "higher elevation "that is unusual for a Alishan region tea. With its tender aroma but robust and sweet aftertaste this tea does not feel like a tea from elevation of 1200 meters at all. Maybe that is because this tea was blessed by the ancestor spirit of Tashan? We may never know. All we will know is this is a true treat for any Jade Oolong tea lover to explore.