ali shan special
by masters teas
(8 reviews)Our Ali Shan Special is buttery and amazingly rich. It brews a very complex, silky cup that speaks of its high altitude origin and beautiful tender leaves. A truly satisfying cup for anyone partial to oolongs.
It is typical for tea farmers in Taiwan to harvest their crops five times a year. However, Ali Shan and other high mountain teas are only harvested twice a year. This is usually done in October and June. The picking standard consists of 2 to 4 young, hand-plucked leaves. They are then withered, reducing the moisture content and then oxidized using bamboo trays.
The leaves are then processed in cloth bags, which are rolled, removing any residual moisture and stopping oxidation. A classic Ali Shan is usually oxidized to around 30 or 40 percent, yielding a light-medium oolong.
Recent reviews
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Tee Y
A bit too delicate for me on the first steep. I sometimes find that a second steep results in a more enjoyable cup of tea, so I shall give this another try.
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Kimberly Waggoner
I thought this was fine; it is milder and butterier than my usual mineral forward oolongs. I will probably stick with the latter but this was nice to try
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Julie W
This tea is so smooth....sipping it is so relaxing and just enjoyable. The taste is herbal and sweet....not grassy....just green tasting if that makes sense. :) I like this one brewed as hot tea. Just a lovely cup of tea!
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Janet Ross
This is a delicate and buttery tasting green oolong tea that is a pleasure to drink. It needs nothing added to improve its flavor. Make sure that you have the time to fully enjoy this before you partake! I steeped at 175 degrees for 3 minutes and got three wonderful cups from the unfolding, beautiful leaves.
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Red Wolfe
A wonderfully light and smooth oolong. The flavors are perfectly floral like the beginnings of spring, and there's a bit of a mineral note in the background. Overall, an excellent tea any oolong fan should try.
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Sleepy Greyhound
Very nice lightly oxidized oolong. Smooth body and light floral aroma. Slightly vegetal and green taste with a light astringency to finish.
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Michael M
Wonderful floral aroma that carries over nicely into the cup. Subtle sweetness and vegetal flavors bring nice balance. A lovely Ali Shan.