Alishan Mi Xian Black Tea, Lot 229

One of the advantages we have when going into the mountains to look for teas is that we are always ready to consider smaller lots that may be overlooked by many bigger buyers. This is one of them. So, I’ll emphasize again, it’s in very limited supply (and, please buy some before we drink it all!). This is so good! Imagine the fruitiness of a Taiwanese Black Tea morphed with the exuberance and generous aromatics of High Mountain Oolongs and you will have an idea of the quality of the experience this tea delivers. It has a nice citrusy attack that develops into deeper notes of stone fruit compote with an envelope of wild honey smoothness and complexity. The ending notes are all velvety and long-lasting. The depth of the flavours and generosity in the aromas tells us we are in the presence of a superior tea. It’s beautifully crafted twisted leaves reveal even and near perfect picking of Cing Xin. A few (bug) bite marks here and there will give off that this is a Mi Xian tea (Mi Xian means honey aroma). Mi Xian teas are part of this uniquely Taiwanese list of “Beauty” teas that receive the unique contribution of small leaf hoppers that are partly responsible for the honey flavour and thickness of these special teas. To be experienced!