Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
Two Nantou and Chiayi high-mountain areas producing similar creamy floral oolong. Elevation and area names are used loosely in the market.
Point by point
| Dimension | Shan Lin Xi | Alishan oolong |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · lightly oxidised | Oolong · lightly oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Drying. bud and three plus and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Cloth-ball rolling → Drying. winter harvest. |
| Origin | Taiwan | Taiwan — Alishan |
| Flavour | floral, creamy, vegetal and sweet. full bodied and silky in the mouth. Aroma: bamboo, cedar, cream, green melon. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. | floral, creamy and sweet. full bodied, silky, smooth and complex in the mouth. Aroma: fresh cream, lily, sugarcane, mountain herbs. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 25s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 25s of 6 authored. Flash-chilled iced tea: 2–3 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 90s. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Not recorded for this tea. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.