Foshou Alishan

"Foshou needs roasting for good taste," says tea master Wei-Chun, and here we have a stellar example of his philosophy. In this case, the "good" starts already with the smell: A very light roast gives the huge, tightly rolled leaves a sweet, pastry-like fragrance. Once they are touched by water, though, everything shifts toward refreshing citrus notes—not surprisingly, as this tea is named after the Buddha's Hand lemon (Citrus medica var. digitata). With a refreshing and slightly mineral character, this oolong conjures up memories of drinking homemade lemonade in summer, but this alone would not do justice to its complexity; the herbal taste of verbena and the tangy aroma of green grapes can be found as well. The Buddha would surely have liked this tea!

Written by Sven

 

The tea master

Liao Wei-Chun, based in Taipei City, is a distinguished student of Huangtan Chen, known in the Western world as Atong, arguably Taiwan’s most renowned tea expert. Master Chen’s tea classes at the community college in Taipei attract numerous enthusiasts, yet only two students have the privilege of teaching alongside him. Master Wei-Chun is one of these select few.
With extensive connections throughout Taiwan, Master Wei-Chun dedicates much of the harvest season to visiting various tea gardens, where he processes tea in small batches. He possesses a deep expertise in traditional Oolong processing, yet he is also known for his innovative spirit, experimenting with new leaf varieties and processing techniques. This modern approach, coupled with the solid foundation inherited from Master Chen, yields impressive results. The consistency and quality of his exceptional teas are unparalleled in our tea sourcing journey.
During the tea off-season, Master Wei-Chun can often be found in ski resorts in Japan, where he teaches downhill skiing.

 

Ali Shan tea region

Ali Shan is not a single mountain, but a large mountain range and, administratively, also the name of a township. Under the influence of the Tea and Beverage Research Station (TBRS), formerly Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES), the Taiwanese tea regulation allowed the labelling of tea as "Ali Shan," when it is produced in one of the following four townships, all located in the Chiayi county:
  1. Alishan Township
  2. Meishan Township
  3. Fanlu Township
  4. Zhuqi Township
  • ORIGIN: Meishan, Chiayi, Taiwan
  • MEANING: Buddha's Hand (foshou)
  • CULTIVAR: Foshou
  • HARVEST TIME: September 2023
  • TEA MASTER: Wei-Chun (Ryan)
  • TASTE: Homemade lemonade, verbena, green grapes

IN THE TEAPOT
  • Quantity: 6g / 500ml
  • Water temperature: 100°C
  • Infusion time: 5 min
GONGFU CHA METHOD
  • Quantity: 3g / 100ml
  • Water temperature: 100°C
  • 4 infusions: 30, 45, 60, 90 sec

For best results in gongfu cha, brew in the traditional gaiwan or in a Yixing teapot.