Da Yu Ling Tea

Da Yu Ling tea is cultivated in the Lishan mountain range of central Taiwan, in the Heping District of Taichung. The tea gardens sit at some of the highest elevations among Taiwan's high-mountain oolongs, reportedly above 2,200 meters, where cool temperatures and persistent fog slow leaf growth and concentrate flavor compounds.

Da Yu Ling is considered the pinnacle of Taiwan high-mountain oolong, with a smoother, more refined mouthfeel than Lishan or Alishan teas. It typically exhibits pronounced floral and buttery notes with almost no astringency and a long, sweet aftertaste that lingers, reflecting the extreme altitude and careful hand-processing.

Da Yu Ling is among the most expensive oolongs in Taiwan because the extremely high-altitude growing conditions limit yield and make hand-harvesting difficult, while demand from tea connoisseurs far outstrips supply. Additionally, some Da Yu Ling tea gardens have faced land-use restrictions near protected forest zones, further constraining production from this already small appellation.

Da Yu Ling is best brewed gongfu style using a small gaiwan or Yixing teapot with water around 95°C (203°F) and a high leaf-to-water ratio. Start with brief steeps of 15–20 seconds for the first infusion and gradually extend the time; high-quality Da Yu Ling can yield 8 or more infusions with evolving flavor across steeps.