Name: Da Lun Shan Oolong (大崙山）medium roast
Year: 2026, spring tea
Variety: Qingxin and Jinxuan cultivar blend
Age of tea bushes is 15 years
Weight: 50 grams vaccumed pack or 10 grams sample

Taiwan Dalunshan Organic Honey Aroma Oolong (Mi Xiang) – Spring Harvest

Every tea garden has its signature. At Mr. Lin’s organic tea garden on Dalunshan, one expression captures the purity of the mountain, while another celebrates one of nature’s most remarkable collaborations.

This Honey Aroma Oolong (Mi Xiang Oolong) is produced from the very same spring harvest, the same organic tea garden and the same experienced hands as our Dalunshan High Mountain Oolong. The difference lies not in the mountain, but in nature itself.

The tea comes from the garden of Mr. Lin, a tea farmer now in his seventies who still tends his tea fields with remarkable energy and dedication. When I asked him how long he had been making tea, he simply smiled and replied, “Fifty-two years.” Few tea makers have the privilege of spending an entire lifetime understanding the subtle dialogue between tea plants and the mountain that surrounds them.

Crafted from a harmonious blend of Qing Xin (青心烏龍) and Jin Xuan (金萱) cultivars, this tea beautifully combines Qing Xin’s refined floral elegance with the creamy smoothness and silky mouthfeel of Jin Xuan. The result is elevated even further by one extraordinary gift from nature—the unmistakable honey fragrance that gives this tea its name.

Nature’s Signature

Unlike ordinary oolongs, Mi Xiang teas owe their distinctive character to the tiny tea green leafhopper (Jacobiasca formosana). During the growing season, these tiny insects gently feed on young tea leaves. Rather than harming the quality of the tea, the bites trigger the tea plant’s natural defence mechanism, stimulating the production of aromatic compounds that later develop into beautiful notes of honey, ripe fruit and flowers during processing. This remarkable phenomenon has been cherished in Taiwan for generations and is responsible for some of the island’s most celebrated teas, including Oriental Beauty, Gui Fei and Honey Aroma Oolongs. Scientific studies have shown that leafhopper feeding increases the formation of floral and honey-like volatile compounds, making these teas unlike any other.

Because these tiny insects thrive only in healthy, pesticide-free environments, authentic bug-bitten teas are often associated with carefully managed organic or low-intervention tea gardens where nature is allowed to find its own balance.

Elegant Sweetness from the Mountain

Although naturally sweeter than the unbitten Dalunshan High Mountain Oolong, this medium rosted tea remains wonderfully refined and balanced.

The first infusion reveals delicate floral aromas wrapped in a gentle honey fragrance that never feels overpowering or artificial. Fresh spring vegetation and elegant orchid notes are gradually joined by aromas of ripe orchard fruits, nectar and wildflowers. The liquor is exceptionally smooth, creamy and velvety, with a rich yet effortless mouthfeel that coats the palate without becoming heavy.

As the session progresses, the honey character becomes increasingly integrated with layers of ripe fruit, subtle mineral notes and the refreshing mountain freshness that is characteristic of Dalunshan. The sweetness is natural, clean and remarkably persistent, leading to a long, soothing aftertaste that invites infusion after infusion.

Even after many brews, the tea retains remarkable vitality, offering a calm, comforting and deeply satisfying tea session.

The Dalunshan Tea Mountain

Dalunshan (大崙山) is located in Lugu Township, Nantou County, in the heart of central Taiwan. The tea gardens lie at elevations of approximately 1,250–1,500 metres, placing them among Taiwan’s celebrated high mountain tea regions.

Although situated only a short distance from the famous Dong Ding tea area, Dalunshan enjoys considerably higher elevations. It is also one of the principal tea-producing areas within the broader Shanlinxi region, alongside Longfengxia, Yangwan, and Xitou. Exceptional Dalunshan teas are therefore often marketed simply as Shanlinxi High Mountain Oolong.

Frequent mountain mist, cool temperatures, moderate rainfall and pronounced differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures create ideal growing conditions. These slow the growth of the tea leaves, allowing them to accumulate higher concentrations of amino acids while naturally suppressing bitterness. The result is exceptional sweetness, remarkable purity and the mountain character that Taiwanese tea lovers call Shantou Qi (山頭氣).

Traditional Taiwanese Craftsmanship

Like the finest Taiwanese high mountain teas, this Mi Xiang Oolong is traditionally ball-rolled and carefully crafted to preserve both the freshness of the spring harvest and the naturally developed honey aroma. The processing respects the unique qualities created by the leafhopper, allowing the floral elegance, creamy texture and delicate honey sweetness to remain beautifully balanced.

Expect aromas of wildflower honey, orchids, ripe stone fruits and spring blossoms, supported by a silky body, gentle minerality and a lingering sweet finish (Huigan 回甘) that remains on the palate long after the final sip.

This is a tea that reminds us that some of nature’s finest aromas cannot be created by the tea maker alone. They emerge only when mountain, climate, tea plant, insects and human craftsmanship come together in perfect harmony.