With the passing of winter in Taiwan comes this highly anticipated Winter High Mountain Tea. Winter tea is regarded to be the purest expression of High Mountain Oolong. If offers a distinct flavour due to the tea leaves maturing under the cold mountain temperature. Seasonal tea (spring or winter) is considered premium grade compared to the more common all-year round variety as the tea bush is given time to develop and mature.

This harvest comes from a farm in ChiaYi County in the mountains of Alishan (elevation over 1,000 m) and has a rich yellow colour and carries a sweet caramel aroma. The taste is well balanced, purer and it has a fuller body as the larger winter leaves gradually release their flavour with each subsequent brew. I like the subtlety of the tea compared to the spring variety, and how it carries a lingering, nutty sweetness in your tongue.

This handpicked tea comes as loose leaf and is vacuum-packed direct at the farm for freshness. You can also choose the convenient tea bag option which is the same loose leaf tea packed into individually sealed, silk tea bags if you like your tea on-the-go (view it in my store Winter Harvest in Tea Bag).

How I select my tea »

Note: External product packaging may vary due to season and availability.

Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of tea leaf with 120 ml of near boiling water.

Put tea leaf in a pot and do a quick rinse with hot water. Discard the liquid.
Steep the tea leaf with hot water for 30 to 40 secs and pour into drinking cup or pitcher.
Repeat the steeping and mix the brews together.

Now you have a great tasting cup of tea with amazing fragrant aroma.

View step-by-step guide here »

This delightful High Mountain Tea comes from the hills of Ruili Village in Taiwan Alishan and is grown and harvested in the spring season. Seasonal tea (spring or winter) is considered premium grade compared to the more common all-year round variety as the plants are given time to develop and mature. Spring tea is known for its aromatic qualities and intricate flavours. This, coupled with the way each farmer applies his own skills to extract the desired flavours from the tea, gives this harvest a truly special character.

This particular spring tea is cultivated on the northern side of the Alishan mountain. The village is over 1,000 m (3,280 feet) above sea level and it is famous for its breath-taking sceneries and tea farms. I only managed to acquire a small quantity as the harvest is limited, typical of the family-run farms on the mountain. I chose it as it truly reflects the splendour of High Mountain Tea. It has a buttery floral flavour, a mellow silky texture and a sweet, fruity aftertaste that I am sure will captivate old and new Oolong tea lovers alike. It can be infused many times without losing much of its flavour or turning astringent, typical of high grade tea. The farm recently switched to using organic fertiliser. I find the brew is a touch sweeter and a more prominent nutty aroma.

This handpicked tea comes as loose leaf and is vacuum-packed direct at the farm for freshness.

Read how I select my tea »

Note: External product packaging may vary due to season and availability.

Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of tea leaf with 120 ml of near boiling water.

Put tea leaf in a pot and do a quick rinse with hot water. Discard the liquid.
Steep the tea leaf with hot water for 30 to 40 secs and pour into drinking cup or pitcher.
Repeat the steeping and mix the brews together.

Now you have a great tasting cup of tea with amazing fragrant aroma.

View my detail guide here »

GABA Oolong tea is one of the richest food sources available for natural GABA due to the distinct quality of the oolong tea leaf and its semi-oxidised nature. The farm that produces this tea is a certified organic plantation that uses natural farming and harvesting process. I selected this GABA Oolong tea over many others I've tried because I really enjoyed how it tastes.

Every farm produces slightly different tasting tea due to the level of fermentation, coupled with the skills and experience of the farmer. The flavour of this medium-fermented tea sits closer to a black tea (think raw Pu'er) with a hint of Oolong freshness. It has a smoky, dark undertone coupled with a subtle floral note, followed by a smooth and sweet aftertaste. If you're like me and love a cup of Oolong in the evenings or night-time then this is a perfect companion. Due to its unique GABA content, this tea will soothe the mind and prepares one for a good night's rest.

The farm that produces this GABA Oolong tea is located in Mingjian Township in Nantou County. It is a certified organic farm and meets the strict standards set by both the Taiwanese and Japanese government when it comes to GABA tea production. This tea is vacuum-packed direct at the farm to maintain its freshness.

If you like to read more of the process and background of GABA, I have included them in the Links tab.

Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of tea leaf with 120 ml of near boiling water.

Put tea leaf in a pot and do a quick rinse with hot water. Discard the liquid.
Steep the tea leaf with hot water for 30 to 40 secs and pour into drinking cup or pitcher.

Repeat the steeping and mix the brews together to get a great tasting cup of tea with amazing fragrant aroma.

You can easily make up to 6 or 7 brews and still retain the body and flavour of this quality tea.

GABA references and links:

• A kind of renewing naturally healthy tea
• GABA is an anti-stress, anti-anxiety, calming and relaxing nutrient
• GABA is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter (Wikipedia)
• GABA Tea - The Japanese Secret

This High Mountain Tea will be a delight for those who are after a high grade, flavoursome Oolong tea that is grown using organic farming and produced free of chemical and pesticides.

This spring tea is from ShiZhuo district in Taiwan Alishan and offers the same unique, sublime flavour common to premium teas produced in this famous alpine region. Mr Wang, the owner of the farm (pictured here) went through great length to locate his farm on the steep mountainside to ensure there is no cross-contamination from neighbours, as even a little breeze can carry pesticides across. The extent of carefulness is required to pass the certification test for 488 commonly used pesticides.

The mid-season tea is harvested in between seasons and carry the unique flavour of both spring and winter. It is an affordable alternative for tea lovers who enjoy premium organic Alishan tea.

The harvest is golden yellow in colour and carries a sweet orchid fragrance, a smooth texture with a mellow fruity undertone. It is an amazing harvest that is both inspiring and relaxing at the same time, a unique flavour that one has to try to believe. I use an aroma cup when I brew this tea just to savour the exquisite fragrance.

This handpicked tea comes as loose leaf and is vacuum-packed direct at the farm for freshness.

Read how I select my tea »

Note: External product packaging may vary depending on season and availability.

Organic farming for High Mountain Tea is relatively new and it is a difficult journey to embark on as it requires significantly more work to start with (i.e. proper location on the steep terrain) and the cost of production is generally 2 – 3 times higher than normal tea. The plantations I choose are either certified organic farms or at the very least uses organic fertilizers. Their price points will be different but my intention is that everyone should be able to enjoy organically grown tea regardless. I believe that organic produce is the way of the future for this world to be sustainable, both from a health and ecological perspective.

No pesticide is used on the farm

Harvesting the organic High Mountain Tea

Use 2 to 3 teaspoons of tea leaf with 120 ml of near boiling water.

Put tea leaf in a pot and do a quick rinse with hot water. Discard the liquid.
Steep the tea leaf with hot water for 30 to 40 secs and pour into drinking cup or pitcher.
Repeat the steeping and mix the brews together.

Now you have a great tasting cup of tea with amazing fragrant aroma.

View my detail guide here »

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