At 2600 meters above sea level, Fu Shou Shan is the second highest peak in the Lishan Range, exceeding Lishan (for which the mountain range is named) by almost 400 meters.
Because of its high elevation and northern latitude, Fu Shou Shan's harvest begins much later than most Formosa oolong teas. Our Fu Shou Shan was hand-gathered from a tea garden that sits at nearly 2500 meters (8200 feet) above sea level. At that elevation, strong but short sun exposure in the morning produces intense flavor compounds, while cooler mist-enshrouded afternoons allow the plant to store those compounds. This tea was harvested the first week of May 2012. This later harvest gave the tea more time to develop, intensifying the taste, aroma and finish of an already delicious tea.
The result is an incredibly flavorful and complex tea with an amazing degree of balance and restraint, with absolutely no astringency or bitterness. An initial brew delivers aromatic notes of sugarcane and grass. Subsequent brews reveal more complex floral and citrus notes that bring to mind grapefruit, oranges and apples. The finish is rich, unctuous and persistent.
SIMILAR TEAS
BREWING GUIDE
Infuser Cup
Water Temp 200 ° F
Steep Time 3 min
Tea Bowl
Water Temp 200 ° F
Gaiwan / Teapot (6 oz.)
Water Temp 200 ° F
Steep Time 3 min
Teapot (12 oz.)
Water Temp 200 ° F
Steep Time 3 min
Fu Shou Shan, like Lishan, takes time to open and infuse.
To brew Fu Shou Shan in a gaiwan or small tea pot, we prefer steeping 5 grams of this tea at 200 degrees for 3 minutes on the initial brew, dropping down to 2 minutes 30 seconds on the second brew, and then increasing that in increments of 30 seconds for subsequent brews. For lighter infusions, use hotter water and half the brew time.
