As an aficionado of Taiwanese teas, I couldn’t resist trying this one from Yu Shan. Situated in the southernmost part of Nantu County, Jade Mountain is the tallest peak in Taiwan, but its output is low due to its remote location. I did steeps of 50, 40, 60, 90, and 120 seconds in 195F water, using 4 grams of tea in a 120 ml teapot.
If I didn’t know where this tea came from, I’d guess it was from Alishan. It’s sweet, floral, and buttery with vegetal undertones. In the second steep, these undertones resolve into something lemony and herbaceous—lemon verbena? This is gone by the fourth steep, as the tea becomes more vegetal. There’s still a lot of flavour, but the florals and sweetness are almost gone. This tea, though perhaps lacking in staying power, has a fascinating and distinctive character and I’m glad that Teabento generously allowed me to review it.
Flavors: Butter, Floral, Herbaceous, Lemongrass, Vegetal
