Jin Xuan is a variety of oolong tea developed in 1980. The tea is also known as #12 or as "Milk Oolong". It originates from Taiwan. Jin-Xuan is a special variety of Camellia Sinesis (tea plant) developed through research at the Taiwan Tea Agricultural Research center. This special variety is known for producing a Oolong with a special fragrance and a very light creaminess. The taste is light and flowery and sometimes compared to milk. This tea variety can be grown at higher altitudes, and the yield is about 20% higher compared to traditional tea varieties. The widely advertised milky flavor of Jin Xuan is not always natural but is added by aromatization. The common method of flavoring the leaves further to accentuate their characteristic buttery taste is to steep or steam them in milk before roasting.
Since then Jin Xuan oolong tea has become one of the main tea strains in Taiwan. The tea farming regions in Nantou county are the most famous areas for growing lower elevation Jin Xuan tea. The best, higher elevation Jin Xuan, however, is in the Alishan mountain region. Our supreme grade Jin Xuan oolong has not been scented at all, it is 100% natural. The leaves of supreme Alishan Jin Xuan Oolong Tea are grown in the famous Ah-Li Mountains in Taiwan. Alishan Jin Xuan Oolong brings one of the great locations for growing Oolong tea together with one of the special Oolong varieties, Jin Xuan. At the elevation of 950 to 1000 meters, the mountainsides are covered with fog or clouds which are ideal for growing Oolong.
The dry leaves of this supreme Jin Xuan has a sweet smell of a mix of flower and fruit scent. Its rinsed leaves have more sweet fruit smell. The broth is medium bodied, smooth and straightforward. This oolong is a lightly oxidized tea and produces a soft, smooth and almost creamy brew with a delicate, floral aroma. It has an enchanting taste, rich complexity and natural after-taste. Along with various flower aroma of light fermentation tea, it features a natural delicate smell of milk. This natural milk smell can only be found in Jinxuan oolong tea. It's a great daily drinker and it's a great tea to learn what a lightly oxidized tea can offer.
Brewing Guide: We highly recommend brewing Taiwan Oolong gongfu style to appreciate its many layers of flavor. High mountain oolong may be prepared in a regular teapot, an Yixing clay pot, or in individual cups. Use about 1 tsp. per cup (8 oz.) of water heated to 80-90°C (176-194°F). Infuse for 2-3 minutes and pour off. The leaves may be resteeped 1-3 times.
