*Award-Winning* Mr Lee's Handpicked Alishan High Mountain Milk Oolong

Alishan Milk Oolong - Single Estate, Mr Lee's Garden (Jin Xuan Cultivar, High Mountain Taiwan)

A handpicked, naturally creamy oolong from one of Taiwan's most celebrated high-mountain growing regions. Sourced exclusively from Mr Lee's Garden in the Alishan range at approximately 2,000m elevation, this winter-harvest Jin Xuan oolong delivers a smooth, buttery mouthfeel and gardenia-like florals - entirely without flavourings or additives.

Great Taste Award Winner 2019 - 2 Stars

What Is Milk Oolong? Milk oolong (奶香烏龍) is not flavoured with milk. The creamy, buttery character is a natural result of the Jin Xuan cultivar (Camellia sinensis var. Jin Xuan), the elevation at which it's grown, and the skill of the farmer. Inferior milk oolongs often add artificial flavouring to mimic this effect - this tea does not. The creaminess here is entirely the product of terroir, cultivar, and craft.

Tasting Notes: Gardenia · fresh cream · sweet butter · light vegetal · lingering floral sweetness

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky, full-bodied with a creamy finish

Key Features

• Origin: Alishan Mountain Range, Taiwan - single estate, Mr Lee's Garden (~2,000m elevation)
• Cultivar: Jin Xuan (金萱) - the cultivar responsible for the natural milk character
• Season: Winter harvest - slower growth at altitude produces more concentrated, refined flavour
• Processing: Handpicked, partially oxidised, pearl-rolled, vacuum-aged
• Ageing: Vacuum-aged post-harvest; floral notes become increasingly refined with each year
• Format: Whole loose-leaf
• Additives: None — no artificial milk flavouring, no enhancers
• Suitable for: Vegans and vegetarians

The Garden & The Farmer Mr Lee's garden sits within the Alishan range, home to some of the highest peaks in Taiwan. At 2,000m, the cool temperatures, mist, and slower leaf development are what give high-mountain oolongs their characteristic depth and sweetness. Mr Lee was introduced to us through our long-time collaborator in Nantou - the same producer behind our award-winning Empirical Oolong - and he manages his fields with exceptional precision, including drone-assisted cultivation.

Every year, we vacuum-age this tea and open a small batch to re-taste. Each year, the florals grow more delicate and defined.

How to Brew Alishan Milk Oolong

• Water temperature: 100°C
• Amount: 2g per 100ml (i.e. 6g for a typical mug)
• First steep: 4-5minutes
• Subsequent steeps: Add 20–30 seconds per infusion
• Steeps: Multiple infusions - the buttery sweetness deepens after the first couple steeps.

Tip: Try without milk or sweetener first - the natural creaminess is best experienced unadorned.

When to Drink It

Morning: Gentle caffeine, smooth body — an elegant alternative to coffee with none of the bitterness.

Afternoon: Pairs beautifully with light pastries, shortbread, almond cake, or white chocolate.

After meals: The clean, sweet finish makes it a natural digestif after delicate cuisine.

SIMILAR TEAS

Try our other milk oolongs from different seasons and under different aging techniques for comparison. Why not compare this tea with other milk oolong from different elevations, or different cultivars such as our High Mountain Chin Shin oolong tea?

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