The organic Alishan Oolong plantation

July 2022

In the summer of 2022, I stumbled upon this organic plantation by design. How can you tell which plantation isn't using chemicals as weed killer? One way is to visit the tea growing region unannounced and see for yourself in which plantation there are people taking care of the weed with their hands or simple mechanical means. 
 

July 2023

That's how I found this beautiful Qingxin Oolong, which also happens to be one of the highest in the Chang Shu Hu area. This is important detail, because this means that chemicals sprayed on neighboring plantations are less likely to flow or upstream or fly upwards to its trees!

May 2024

2 years ago, I selected this red tea from this plantation. I was also interested in tasting the spring 2023 Oolong, but it sold out almost as soon as it was produced! This is another lesson I learned: when a farmer works hard in his tea field, he often doesn't have to work much selling the tea. Quality and reputation are the best marketing.

This year, I called him beforehand and was able to snatch 2 batches of his spring high mountain Oolong: May 1st and May 6th. I liked the fact that each batch has a distinctive personality and that both tasted very pure. I also drove to the plantation and could see that there's work right after the harvests.

We can see these workers trimming the Qingxin Oolong trees so that they don't grow too tall. Instead of trees, I should use the name 'bushes', which better describes them. By the way, I also like how this plantation is surrounded by bamboo and pine trees. It protects the field from the cold in winter and from wind.

This trimming may look unnatural, but it helps keeping the plantation organic. See below, the cut leaves and stems remain on the soil. This protect the ground from erosion and provides natural nutrients to the soil as they decompose. It also helps to retain moisture for dry days and stops weed from growing for a while.   

So, these leaves were harvested by hand on May first 2024. This is rather late for this area, but this is normal if you consider that this is the highest field in this region and that organic tea is growing slower, because it isn't overfed with fertilizer. 

I brew this fresh high mountain Oolong on a dark green Chabu to underline the spring feeling of this tea. It's so fresh, mellow and well balanced! The leaves have fully expanded in the gaiwan. That's how you get them to release all their natural high mountain flavors. 

The power and beauty of Alishan is in the cup and soon it will be dancing in my throat and exhilarate my nose! Spring has arrived!