Da Yu Ling 2024

Da Yu Ling 大寓嶺

Type: Oolong Tea

Region: Taiwan

Harvest: 2024

Elevation: 2400 - 2600m (above sea level)

Roast: Light

Da Yu Ling is the highest mountain peak in Taiwan. Around 2400 - 2600 meters above sea level, the tea shrubs is covered in white snow in the winter - giving the tea another name "霜雪茶“ cold frost tea. Due to its high altitude, growing at the tree line - meaning the extreme limits and borders where the tea shrubs can survive - the coldness constraints to extremely low yield harvests. But the trade-off is that slow growth contributes to the high pectin and sugar levels stored in the leaf as reserves for survival. The results is a creamy viscous texture that spreads to cover the entire palette with a cooling and lingering sweet finish, aka "Hui Gan 回甘". 

In the past decade, the tea trees from the Da Yu Ling gardens had been increasingly uprooted. Parcels of land from the area were recovered by the local government to plant other trees to combat the risks of erosion due to climate change. This continues to exacerbate, leaving us with lesser and lesser yields from the revered gardens. Although there is some hope as farmers and tea makers protests that tea trees can also fight erosion just as well while educating the non-tea drinker officials in the government decision making process.

This Da Yu Ling was crafted from the Qing Xin "清心“ varietal, directly translated as Clear Heart Cultivar. Qing Xin/Clear Heart is known for the classic choice for crafting the high mountain teas of Taiwan. This micro-lot was harvested in early May 2024, rushed down the mountain, crafted, then vacuumed sealer and placed into cold storage all within few days. This is now ready for everyone to enjoy.

From my experiments with this tea, it is on the lighter side and can require more of a push in the infusion. When brewed at 195 - 200 F, the brew is sweet and viscous and can be brewed at higher temperatures (205 -208 F) as well for a more intense sweetness.  Personally, I enjoy a longer brew by slow infusing at 205 F in a larger clay vessel of 250ml -300ml with 6-7 grams of tea leaves. This is another very versatile tea and has a wide brewing range of possibilities. This Da Yu Ling just keeps on releasing flavors and keeps on giving.