Tsou Alishan Dark Age 2017 - 50g - Weight: 50g

 A high-altitude, highly oxidised oolong from a beautiful part of central Taiwan. I discovered this garden while exploring Formosa this year (2023), trying to find the best of the area.
 
The Alishan Dark Age comes from the Chin Xin cultivar and is a hand-pick from the spring of 2017. These more oxidised teas are left to age for at least 3 years to give them better flavour and character, basically they are not even drunk/sold fresh.
 
The dry leaf has a fresh aroma of ripe and lightly fermented fruit. It is the combination of lightly fermented ripe fruit, a hint of citrus, maybe menthol, dried apricot that dominates the cup and the taste, the flavour is very subtle, complex and complex. The tea is 7 years old, but don't look for signs of ageing in the taste of the tea. The aftertaste is very smooth, mellow, sweet and long lasting.
 

The highest quality of this tea, which is even a level higher than Dark Age 2015. It is more elegant, more complex, more delicate. It's a really fine tea, so if you're craving a fuller body and more intense flavor, go for the 2015 version. This is a very fine drink to contemplate. Further confirmation that this garden produces top quality and, above all, original oolongs.

Location: Alishan Mountain Range.
Altitude: 1200-1500m
Cultivar: Chin Xin
Leaf type: whole leaf tea
Harvesting type: hand picking, bud and two leaves, or bud and 4 leaves, depending on quality
Use: Gong-fu, or Cold-brew
Oxidation: 70-80%
Roasting: lightly roasted.
 
 
Preparation per 100ml - Gong fu Cha - 6-7g, 90-100°C, 120 s for the first infusion.
Second and third infusion 100s-120s, depending on preference, longer time means more intense flavor but not bitterness.

Can withstand multiple infusions. This way you can enjoy the tea from the more delicate first infusion, with further infusions to complement the flavour and full body of this amazing oolong.