Introducing our next "new"-long, this is a High Mountain Alishan oolong. It's been a while since we've had a fresh Alishan (our last one was the darker "Snowy" Alishan). It's nice to have another option for those seeking a classic green high mountain alternative to our popular Lishan.
What's the difference? Well, for starters the teas come from different mountains--Mt. Li in North/Central Taiwan, and Mt. Ali in Southwestern Taiwan, respectively. If push comes to shove, Lishan is probably the most famous tea-producing mountain in Taiwan (at least, the teas grown in the Da Yu Ling area of Lishan command some of the highest prices to be found on the island), but both mountains have distinctive characters. To my palate, Alishan oolongs tend to be just a bit bolder in flavor--bright and forthright but occasionally finicky when it comes to brewing without making a slightly bitter cup.