ShanLinXi high mountain tea is renowned far and wide, with the “LongFengXia tea region” being the most famous. Situated in Zhushan Township, Nantou County, at elevations reaching up to 1,800 meters, the tea produced here possesses a very distinctive “mountain aroma characteristic,” making it a star-studded origin for Taiwanese high mountain tea.
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LongFengXia Tea Region Elevation and Development History
Tea planting here dates back to the 1970s. At that time, the ShanLinXi Highway had not yet been built, and tea leaves had to be transported manually along mountain trails. In the early days, only two farming households grew tea. After the highway opened, the scale and output of tea cultivation in LongFengXia grew year by year. Around 2000, as Taiwanese tea preferences shifted from heavily roasted teas to lightly roasted teas, the high-quality LongFengXia tea region also emerged as one of Taiwan’s most representative high mountain tea regions.
LongFengXia is located at the highest point of ShanLinXi, ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 meters in elevation. Below is the tea region’s altitude measured by the store manager using a mobile app; using Google mapping data, the accuracy is quite reliable (Note: the spot where this was taken is not yet the highest point). To clarify: LongFengXia tops out at 1,800 meters, so claims of 2,000 meters circulating out there are likely a misunderstanding.
The biggest characteristic of the LongFengXia tea region is that “it is often foggy.” Clear mornings frequently roll into heavy fog by nine or ten o’clock. Looking toward LongFengXia from the opposite mountains (Fanzitian and Sansancengping), you will often see the mountain peaks shrouded in mist. Under these conditions, LongFengXia tea grows a bit slower, but the upside is that the tea’s aroma and aftertaste (huanyun) are much richer and more robust.
▼ Overlooking the ShanLinXi tea region from “Sanchalun,” the highest point of the LongFengXia tea region. Budongyu and Shuitongliao are visible on the lower right, while the distant peaks are the Fanzitian tea region and Sansancengping tea region.
Store Manager's Review
Without a doubt, it is an exceptional tea region with a high probability of producing fine teas. There is an “A-grade tea factory” within the region, and many of the other factories operate at a “B+ level,” making the overall tea-making quality quite impressive. The drawback is the drastic difference between high and low elevations, with lower-altitude teas offering somewhat inferior quality. Additionally, because the LongFengXia tea region is so famous, it suffers from the common issue of star regions: a low CP value (price-to-performance ratio). High mountain tea from LongFengXia tends to be NT$100-200 more expensive than tea from the same elevation elsewhere.
LongFengXia Tea Garden Photos
LongFengXia Tea Region FAQ
Where is LongFengXia located?
It is located in Zhushan Township, Nantou. Take the ShanLinXi Highway toward the ShanLinXi Forest Recreation Area, turn right onto “Tou 49 Township Road,” and you will enter the tea region in about 1 km. Google Maps Link
Does the elevation of the LongFengXia tea region exceed 2,000 meters?
No, it tops out at just over 1,800 meters. The highest in the ShanLinXi tea series is the Wangyou Forest Caodazi, which maxes out at 1,950 meters.
Are there tea gardens at an elevation of 1,400 meters in LongFengXia?
Yes! Walking down the small path for over 300 meters, you can still find tea gardens almost reaching the Jiazouliao River, with the lowest point around 1,400 meters. Therefore, even within LongFengXia, there is a significant variation in quality.