Ching Jung Hehuanshan Oolong – Winter 2025 Harvest

Grown by Xingzhongrui Tea | Roasted by the Ching Jung Family

This Hehuanshan Oolong is one of the nicest lightly roasted high mountain teas I've come across. Grown by Xingzhongrui Tea in Taiwan's Hehuanshan Mountains and roasted by the Ching Jung family, it showcases everything I enjoy about high-elevation Taiwanese oolongs.

The team at Xingzhongrui oversees every step of production, from growing and harvesting the tea to the final processing. Their goal is to produce teas with exceptional sweetness and a lingering finish, and they've done a beautiful job with this one. The light roast from the Ching Jung family preserves the freshness and character of the leaf while adding just enough warmth and balance.

The first thing you'll notice is the beautiful golden liquor and clean floral aroma. The tea is incredibly smooth with a silky mouthfeel, delicate floral notes, and a pleasant sweetness that stays with you long after each sip. There's just enough brightness to keep it lively without taking away from its soft, balanced nature.

This was one of the teas that made me fall in love with lightly roasted high mountain oolongs. It's the tea that sent me searching for more from the Ching Jung family, and I'm glad it did.

I really enjoy working with the Ching Jung family. They're kind, genuine people who care deeply about producing clean, high-quality tea. They put a lot of care into every batch they roast, and I think you can taste that dedication in every cup.

This tea truly shines when prepared in a gaiwan. I like to fill the gaiwan generously with leaves by feel, though 2–3 grams in a small to medium-sized gaiwan is a great place to start. Use water just off the boil, around 205°F (96°C), and steep the first infusion for about 45 seconds. Increase each subsequent infusion by 20–30 seconds, and you'll be rewarded with five or more flavorful steepings, each revealing a little more of the tea's character.

If you prefer brewing in a mug, use about 2 grams of tea in a strainer for an 8-ounce cup. Steep for about one minute, or longer if you enjoy a stronger brew, then simply re-steep the leaves several more times. While the experience won't be quite the same as Gong Fu brewing, you'll still enjoy a rich, satisfying cup with plenty of life left in the leaves.

If you're new to Gong Fu Cha, I've put together a free guide that walks you through the process of brewing tea in small pots over multiple infusions. You can download it here:

https://ojasnaturals.myshopify.com/products/gong-fu-tea-guide