NH Tea
Ali Shan High Mountain Oolong
Taiwan's Ali Shan oolong grown at 1,400m elevation with floral sweetness and natural jade-green color.
Highlights
- High-altitude 1,400m Taiwanese growing region
- Spring harvest for peak amino acids
- Light roast preserves jade-green color
- 30% oxidation for floral sweetness
- Orchid and fruit-forward taste profile
- Taiwan TQC organic and traceability certified
Specifications
| Origin | Ali Shan, Chiayi County, Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,400+ meters |
| Oxidation | 30% |
| Harvest | Spring flush |
| Roasting Temperature | 45-50°C light roast |
| Packaging | 400g kraft pouches, 20kg cases |
Product Detail
Single-Origin · Ali Shan, Chiayi County, Taiwan
Ali Shan High Mountain Oolong
Grown at 1,400+ metres in Taiwan's Ali Shan range, spring-harvested and light-roasted at 45–50 °C. Oxidation held at 30% gives buyers a jade-green loose leaf with orchid and fruit-forward aromatics — a clean cup that travels well in the premium and private-label oolong segment.
Terroir snapshot
Ali Shan sits in Chiayi County at the southern edge of Taiwan's Central Mountain Range. Above 1,400 m, morning cloud cover persists for 200+ days a year. Cool temperatures slow leaf cell metabolism, concentrating amino acids and letting terpene aromatics accumulate rather than volatilise.
The result is a leaf that even at light oxidation carries enough natural sweetness to brew floral and fruit-forward without added flavouring.
Processing approach
Spring flush leaves (image: vibrant jade-green, broad leaf with intact veining) are withered, lightly bruised for 30% oxidation, then arrested with a kill-green step before shaping. Roasting is kept at 45–50 °C — low enough to hold the chlorophyll-green appearance and delicate floral top note that buyers in premium retail and tea-house channels specifically request.
Loose-leaf format allows buyers to inspect leaf integrity on arrival and re-bag into any retail SKU size.
Why buyers source Ali Shan specifically
- Named origin commands shelf premium in EU and North American specialty retail — "Ali Shan" appears on the label, not just "Taiwan oolong".
- Spring harvest signals the highest-grade window; buyers in Japan and Southeast Asia use it as a tier separator in catalogue pricing.
- 30% oxidation sits at the lighter end of oolong, bridging green tea drinkers to oolong — broadens target SKU audience without a separate product.
- Jade-green dry leaf is visually distinctive in clear retail pouches and gift tins — reduces need for elaborate packaging design to communicate premium.
- Taiwan TQC organic and traceability documentation supports EU organic import requirements and retailer supply-chain audits (documents available upon request).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ali Shan, Chiayi County, Taiwan |
| Elevation | 1,400+ metres |
| Harvest season | Spring flush |
| Oxidation level | 30% |
| Roasting temperature | 45–50 °C (light roast) |
| Leaf format | Loose leaf (semi-curled) |
| Dry leaf appearance | Jade-green, semi-curled |
| Flavour profile | Orchid, stone fruit, light floral sweetness; minimal astringency |
| Retail packaging | 400 g kraft pouches |
| Export case | 20 kg per case |
| Certifications | Taiwan TQC organic; traceability documentation — full records available upon request |
| MOQ / lead time | Available upon request |
| OEM / private label | Available upon request |
Ali Shan oolong sits at the intersection of everyday premium and ceremonial — a versatile origin for multiple channel types.
Specialty retail & e-commerce
Named origin and spring harvest are clear label callouts. 400 g kraft pouches photograph well and fit premium gifting SKUs. Jade-green dry leaf stands out in clear windows.
Tea-house & café chains
Light roast and low astringency make it easy to brew consistently across staff skill levels. Orchid note pairs with dairy alternatives without being overwhelmed. Multiple steepings per service portion improve cost-per-cup.
Private-label importers
20 kg export case allows flexible re-bagging into any retail size. Traceability documentation supports retailer supply-chain requirements in EU and North American markets. OEM packaging details available upon request.
Gift & specialty brands
Ali Shan is a recognised name among tea-aware gift buyers in Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Spring flush adds seasonal story angle. Works well in curated oolong flight sets alongside higher-oxidation varieties.
Process checkpoints buyers care about
- Harvest window control: Spring flush only — the narrow seasonal window is a hard filter against lower-grade summer or autumn leaf entering the batch.
- Oxidation precision: 30% is held consistently. Variation in oxidation shifts flavour significantly in oolong; the target range is monitored during bruising and withering.
- Roast temperature: 45–50 °C is low enough to preserve chlorophyll. Any overrun shows immediately as colour shift in dry leaf — easy to inspect on arrival.
- Traceability: Batch-level records link finished tea to growing plot and harvest date. Supports retailer and importer audit requirements.
- Moisture and storage: Kraft pouches with inner barrier control moisture ingress during transit. Storage and shelf-life parameters available upon request.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Retail unit | 400 g kraft pouch |
| Export case | 20 kg per case |
| OEM / custom label | Available upon request |
| MOQ | Available upon request |
| Lead time | Available upon request |
| Payment terms | Available upon request |
| Target export markets | EU, North America, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Australia |
Pouches ship in sealed 20 kg master cases. If your import channel requires specific inner packaging, barrier material specs, or label language variants, include the details in your enquiry.
What is the minimum order quantity?
MOQ depends on packaging format and destination. Please submit an enquiry with your required volume, packaging preference, and target market — we'll confirm within one business day.
Is OEM or private-label packaging available?
Yes. Custom labels, pouch sizes, and artwork are supported. Share your specifications and we'll advise on minimum run, timeline, and artwork requirements.
Which certifications does this product carry?
Taiwan TQC organic certification and batch-level traceability documentation. Full certificate copies and test reports are available upon request. If your import channel requires additional documentation, let us know.
How does spring harvest differ from other seasons for oolong?
Spring budbreak triggers the highest concentration of free amino acids (notably theanine) in the new leaf. This translates to a rounder, less astringent cup with more pronounced sweetness compared to summer or autumn flush of the same cultivar. For premium-tier Ali Shan oolong, spring harvest is the industry-standard grade benchmark.
Can this be supplied for the EU organic import market?
The product carries Taiwan TQC organic certification with traceability records. Whether this aligns with your specific EU organic import requirements depends on your importer's compliance pathway. We can provide the documentation package so your regulatory team can assess. Contact us with your country of import.
