Collection: Formosa oolong teas

These may be either open or closed leaf styles. The mountainous area to the north of the island known as the Ali Shan is famous for its distinctly fragrant oolongs which have a scent reminiscent of orchids. They have a rich and mellow taste with notes of honey, leather and sandalwood.

The Ali Shan mountains have great beauty and form a protected national park popular with tourists. The famous principal peak rises to 8,500 feet. Teas are produced at several gardens at an altitude of 2,300 to 5,600 feet in an environment that is tropical at the foot, to ideally cool and humid with high rainfall at higher elevations.

These high-grown teas are more aromatic and darker leafed through having less sunshine - much being masked by fogs. These fogs also improve the suppleness of the leaf which have a higher amino acid and nitrogen content, adding to the complexity of their flavours.