Shan Lin Xi
A Nantou high-mountain area planted among bamboo and cedar forest, giving an oolong with a distinctly green, vegetal edge alongside the usual high-mountain creaminess. It sits slightly lower than Alishan and Li Shan and is often better value than either.
Character
Recognisably high-mountain but greener and fresher than Alishan, with a bamboo note attributed locally to the surrounding forest. Frequently the best value in the style.
- Flavour
- Floral, Creamy, Vegetal, Sweet
- Aroma
- Orchid, Fresh
- Mouthfeel
- Full bodied, Silky
- Complexity
- Layered
- Notes
- bamboo, cedar, cream, green melon
- Aftertaste
- Sweet and cooling, with a fresh green edge.
Moderate intensity: noticeable weight or grip, but neither dominates the cup.
Provenance and production
- Origin
- Taiwan
- Cultivar
- Qing Xin
- Oxidation
- Lightly oxidised
- Harvest
- Spring
- Processing
- Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Drying
Brewing
Gongfu brewing (gaiwan)
5–7 g/100 ml · 90–95 °C · 6 authored infusions
Western brewing (teapot or mug)
1.5–2.5 g/100 ml · 90–95 °C · 2 authored infusions
No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.
If you like this
Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.
Editorially linked
Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.
- Alishan oolong
Two Nantou and Chiayi high-mountain areas producing similar creamy floral oolong. Elevation and area names are used loosely in the market.
Similar sensory profile
Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.
- Da Yu Ling
Shares 7 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: floral, creamy, sweet, full bodied, silky, orchid and fresh.
- Bai Ji Guan
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: sweet, floral, creamy, silky, fresh and orchid.
- Baozhong
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: floral, creamy, vegetal, silky, orchid and fresh.
- High mountain oolong
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: floral, creamy, sweet, full bodied, silky and orchid.
- Hou Kui supreme
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: floral, vegetal, sweet, silky, orchid and fresh.
- Jin Xuan
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: creamy, floral, sweet, silky, full bodied and orchid.
- Li Shan
Shares 6 descriptors with Shan Lin Xi: floral, creamy, sweet, full bodied, silky and orchid.