What is Lishan Tea? High Mountain Tea of Taiwan?

梨山茶 Lishan Tea | 一盒精品 ABoxTik

What is Lishan tea? Lishan tea is representative of the tea producing area in the Hehuan Mountains and Cuifeng along the relay industry road to Cuiluan, North-South Line, Huagang, Fushoushan, Lishan, Jiayang, Xinjiayang, Huanshan, Wuling, Biluxi and other areas. The altitude ranges from 1700 to 2300 metres, and because of the high altitude and low temperature of Lishan tea, it is quite suitable for the growth of tea trees. About 50,000 catties of Lishan tea can be produced every year. Let’s find out what Lishan tea is today!

梨山茶 Lishan Tea | 一盒精品 ABoxTik

Lishan Tea Intro

Why Is Lishan Tea So Delicious?

Lishan tea is delicious mainly because of the high altitude and cold weather. The slow growth of tea leaves will strengthen the taste, and the large temperature difference between day and night helps reduce the bitterness of tea leaves.

In addition, because the cold high altitude allows the essence of tea to concentrate, the amount of organic matter (or glucose) produced by photosynthesis and the accumulation or increase of plant leaves is higher than that of flat land. Therefore, Lishan tea is sweeter than flatland tea. High mountain tea is lightly fermented and not roasted, so it will be more fragrant.

Lishan tea is a kind of oolong tea, which became famous in 1965 due to the positive feedback of previous president Chiang Kai-shek. After 1970, a large number of varieties appeared, and the origins included Jiayang, Xinjiayang, Fushoushan, Wuling, Huanshan and Biluxi. Due to the large temperature difference between day and night, and less sunshine, tea is rich in pectin, ethanamine, and theanine, but less in catechin and tea tannin, so the tea is sweet but not bitter.

A cup of tea is the perfect excuse to cuddle up together and enjoy the simple things in life.

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Tea Classroom – Lishan Tea

Lishan tea growing environment and tea area introduction

Lishan tea is the representative tea of Taiwanese high mountain tea. Lishan is located in Heping District, Taichung City, and the Lishan Tea Garden is more than 1700 metres above sea level. Because of the high altitude and cold weather, the picking time of Lishan tea will be one month later than the average tea. In the tea areas not exceeding 1500 meters above sea level, the spring tea will be picked annually on the third month of the lunar calendar, that being from April 20. For Lishan tea, spring tea is collected from the end of May to the beginning of June every year. The reason is that because of the high altitude, the production of Lishan tea trees is relatively slow. Lishan tea can be harvested three times a year, summer tea is harvested from the end of August, and winter tea is harvested in early October.

Suppose we start from Puli on Taiwan Line 14 to Lishan, it will take four hours by car, passing Qingjing Farm and Hehuan Mountain along the way. Due to the long distance and the extremely steep roads, the harvest of Lishan tea is far less than that of other teas, and the price of Lishan tea has remained high.

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What kinds of teas are produced in the Lishan tea district?

Most of the tea produced in the Lishan tea area is oolong tea, but of course, there are also a small number of small-leaf black teas. The tea tree variety is Qingxin Oolong, and there are also a few Tieguanyin and Wuyi varieties, however, common Jinxuan and Sijichun teas alike are not planted in Lishan.

When it comes to the Lishan tea area, the well-known Fushoushan Farm is its representative output. Fushoushan Farm was established on June 1, 1957. The earliest name was “Lishan Veterans Farm”. It was run by the National Military Retired Officers and Soldiers Guidance Committee of the Executive Yuan. The purpose was to enable retired officers and soldiers to work on the farm and engage in production.

In addition to growing temperate fruits such as apples, persimmons, plums, peaches, and pears, Fushoushan Farm also grows Changchun tea in short supply. The Fushoushan Farm started planting tea trees in 1970 and the varieties include Qingxin Oolong, Tieguanyin, and Wuyi. They have become the representatives of Lishan tea.

When we see the Daguan Pavilion printed on the tea packaging, we know it is Lishan tea, and it has become a kind of geographical indication. Daguan Pavilion is located at an altitude of 2580 metres in Taichung City and it is also the highest point of Fushoushan Farm and a well-known “avoid summer heat” resort.

梨山茶 Lishan Tea | 一盒

Lishan Tea Advantages

What are the characteristics of Lishan tea?

Compared with other tea areas, the origin of Lishan tea is cold and foggy, and the soil mainly consists of shale with good drainage. In order to survive in the cold environment, the leaves of tea trees accumulate a lot of sugar and amino acids.

In addition, the sunshine in high mountainous areas is relatively short, so the content of bitter tea polyphenols is lower. These unique environments combined with good manufacturing techniques give Lishan tea a special high mountain flavour.

The way the tea warms my hands reminds me of the way your touch warms my heart.

梨山茶 Lishan Tea | 一盒精品 ABoxTik

How to brew Lishan tea?

The tea accessories used in brewing Lishan tea include: kettle, teapot, tea serving pot, tea cup, tea towel, water bowl, teaspoon, and tea needle. If you want a more accurate tea brewing time, you can also prepare a tea timer.

Lishan Tea Brewing Steps

Tea brewing step 1: warm brew

First, the water must be boiled and the pot should be warmed with boiling water. Then place the tea leaves on the bottom of the teapot and flatten them. At this time, pour enough water to cover the teapot. Cover the teapot and wait for 10 seconds, so that the tea leaves can absorb the appropriate moisture, and the flavours of the tea brew can be released later. Finally, the tea sobrewup can be poured out.

Tea brewing step 2: The first brew

After the above steps are complete, the first brew of the tea leaves is completed. Next, boil the water, fill the teapot with water, cover the teapot lid and wait for about 50 seconds, then pour the tea into the serving pot ready to serve into teacups.

Tea brewing step 3: the second to fifth brew

Follow the same steps from the second until the fifth brew, or until the tea brew has no taste.

Tea brewing step 4: Cleaning

After brewing the tea, you can use the tea needle to take out the tea residue and discard it to a water bowl, then pour boiling water into the empty teapot, close the lid and wait for 30 seconds. Then pour the water into the water bowl, open the lid, and use the residual temperature to dry the teapot. At this time, the teacups, tea serving pot, and water bowl can be cleaned in the sink, and the tea needle can be dried with a tea towel.

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How to Make Cold Brew Tea? Timing and Temp?

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Through today’s introduction, I believe everyone can know why Lishan tea is so rare, and why the price of Lishan tea is so high. Basically, the rarer the variety, the more precious it is, and everything in the world is without exception.

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