The Flavor of Original Taiwan`s Forest Shade | Kaohsiung Liukuei Mountain Tea
On November 15, 2022, the Xinfashe Community in Liugui held its first mountain tea evaluation competition, featuring teas made from Liugui mountain tea, including white tea, oolong tea (green tea), and black tea. A total of 41 groups of tea were evaluated over 8 hours. The Yushan Tea Visit was commissioned by the Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau to serve as a judge.
This evaluation was different from the traditional method of using international tasting standards to judge teas. This time, tea makers brewed the teas for the judges to taste, with each contestant preparing with great care. One contestant even changed outfits to match the flavors of the white, green, and black teas, showing a commendable dedication.
What is Liugui Mountain Tea?
Taiwanese mountain tea is a native species of large-leaf variety found in the mountainous regions of Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Taitung, at elevations ranging from 600 to 1600 meters. Liugui mountain tea, one of the Taiwanese mountain teas, grows mostly under the shade of trees and can reach over 3 meters in height. Its taste is robust, characterized by tender buds without fuzz.
Is Liugui Mountain Tea also known as “Fairy Tea” or “Land God Tea”?
Liugui Mountain Tea, a variety of tea plant, can be processed into any of the six major tea categories. Currently, the main products from this region are white tea, oolong tea (green tea), and black tea, with a small portion made into green tea, and even some pressed into tea cakes. Due to its large leaves, Liugui Mountain Tea has a strong flavor, making it particularly suitable for making black tea.
What issues might arise in the production of Liugui Mountain Tea?
Oolong Tea (Green Tea): The fresh leaves are tender and, being a large-leaf variety, are not suitable for rolling, which can lead to insufficient fermentation and a tendency to cause hunger if consumed in large quantities.
Black Tea: The use of black tea rolling machines is not widespread, with many producers using the Oolong tea Wanyue type rolling machine for fermentation, which can lead to insufficient fermentation and a lack of strength in the black tea flavor.
It was fortunate to taste various Liugui Mountain Teas at Yushan Tea Visit, starting the day excited to taste the teas and ending with a “tea drunk” state where only plain water felt safe to drink. The aftertaste of the mountain tea was indeed powerful.
A personal tip: the day before tea tasting, I prepared German-made full-sugar, full-fat slab chocolate to consume during breaks in tea tasting, which can effectively enhance the “stomach`s” defense. British butter cookies, full-fat full-sugar slab chocolate, and military compressed rations can all efficiently boost the “stomach`s” defense, especially suitable for consuming when drinking large amounts of tea. This tip is shared for your reference.









Leave a reply