Shan Lin Xi, light style Taiwan oolong
$ 21.10
From the Stream of Cypress Woods
To most people, teas from Taiwan are synonymous with high mountain oolongs. Officially, these are the four top subregions for the tea: Alishan, Shan Lin Xi, Li Shan, and Yu Shan. We already carry quite a few Alishan’s, to find one from the others, we have been relentlessly searching. It has to be one comparable to those from Alishan but individualistic enough.
Shan Lin Xi — literally Stream of Cypress Woods — is an area deep in a national reserve in the mountainous central area of the island country. Two hour driving from the station in the small city of Chia Yi, you will have climbed 1000m on the curvy roads deep in the sparse village areas with dense tall trees and quite many degrees lower than down there. Tea patches are hidden here and there amongst forests, occasional clusters of bamboos and a great diversity of wild plants.
The same Chin Hsin Gan Chi cultivar grown here yields leaves that seem to have acquired a different character, a somehow lighter yet more complex, more stimulating tinkle. Previously when I was still operating a teahouse, some customers came to do Zen with tea as the medium. I guess this Shan Lin Xi Oolong can be one for it too.
Net weight: 70 g (2.5 oz) in Kraft-alu pillow
Only 1 left in stock
明前特選 杉林溪烏龍
Taste profile
Nose: Warm, yet light aroma akin to steamed rice from afar, tinted with the blooming of chrysanthemum morifolium and a very light touch of honey and rosemary. Palate: Cleansing, lively body with a lighter, less demanding character on a silky texture. Finish: Initial clean aftertaste, with late onset yet lingering sweetness.
Infusion tips
This oolong can manifest to become quite widely different characters. Higher heat, as much as near boiling, yields a stronger backbone with more prominent astringency. Tone it down to 90°C, the tea can be silky soft. Give it a higher leaf to water ratio, a velvety mouth feel. The taste experience from one of the Taiwan top four high mountain oolongs is worth experimenting with.
Additional information
| Weight | 120 g |
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| Dimensions | 18 × 9 × 5 cm |
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Reviews(1)
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Song Cultivar, Phoenix dancong oolong
Cool Energy, Fenghuang | Phoenix, Floral Aromas, Fuller Bodies, Oolongs, TeaHuangzhi Xiang Dancong:
Song pedigree tea cultivar Huangzhi Xiang distinguishes itself from others of the same name not only by its living ancestor that has been carbon-dated back to the 13th century (late Song), but also by the elegantly complex taste and aroma of the tea it yields. That is why it is the most revered of all Phoenix oolong in its own origin and at the nearby Gongfu Tea Capital of the World — Chaozhou.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack 
Tieguanyin Stout, bouquet oolong
Cool Energy, Floral Aromas, Milder Tastes, Minnan/ Mindong, Fujian, Oolongs, TeaSummit of Chang Keng
While Tea Hong's Tieguanyin Traditional is a softer, sweeter style of the bead-rolled oolong, Tieguanyin Stout from the summit of Chang Keng, although from the same strand of cultivar, yields a much more robust taste profile. Local people say that is due to the soil and higher mineral content of the underground water. Considering the location is only about one hour away from where Tieguanyin Traditional is produced within the same county, it is quite amazing. Maybe it is also due to the slightly different style of processing, we guess. We are happy to have found it at this pristine quality after all, so as to offer to you an alternative style of this most well-known Fujian oolong.
Net weight: 100g (3.5 oz) in Kraft-alu pack 
White Peony Classic Floral
Cool Energy, Home, Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Minnan/ Mindong, Fujian, Tea, White teasFinest Fuding Bai Mudan:
Slowly cured in the grand tradition in the origin of white teas, Fuding, Tea Hong's White Peony Classic Floral maintains the original character of floral aroma with a sweet, refreshing taste. White Peony Classic Floral is a first flush from a high altitude garden of pure Fuding Daibai cultivar, ensuring the best possible health potency of white tea.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack 
White Peony Zhenghe, traditional white tea
Lighter Aromas, Milder Tastes, Minnan/ Mindong, Fujian, Neutral-Cool Energy, Tea, White teasBrowner Style Zhenghe Dabai:
Those who prefer white tea as their daily drink but want a bit more stimulations in taste, White Peony from Zhenghe is a great choice. It is air withered for a longer duration from one of the two classic cultivars, Zhenghe Dabai. The resultant tea tastes slightly sharper and longer than white teas produced from the other classic, Fuding Dabai. White Peony Zhenghe is a fine tea that is most affordably priced.
Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack
This is among the best Shan Lin Xi I’ve ever had. I’m not a connoisseur of Taiwanese oolongs to nearly the same extent that I am a fanatic for Fenghuang oolong, but I’ve been around the block many times and sampled all kinds of Shan Lin Xi with price points from $0.10/g to beyond $1.00/g – and I must say, without a doubt, this is top-tier quality at a price point that makes it a no-brainer.
Even the most die-hard aficionados of Taiwanese oolongs could comfortably keep some of Tea Hong’s Shan Lin Xi in their stash.
The flavor profile is exquisite, it oozes sweet and creamy overtones reminiscent of cinnamon-infused rice milk or coconut milk, with gentle herbaceous accents that remind me of rosemary or pine needles. It’s consistent all the way through and the aftertaste lingers persistently.
This really hits the spot, it’s complex enough to impress those who are new to Taiwanese oolongs, as well as satisfy even the most discerning aficionados who want a great price to quality ratio daily-drinker that does not sacrifice quality in the cup.