
Caopingtou TeaCaopingtou Tea
Flavour
Delicate aroma, mellow and sweet
Caopingtou sits at about 1,300 m in Tongfu Village, Xinyi Township, under cloud most of the year — good ground for the bush. High on the flank of Yushan, it gives a tea with the elevation clearly in it.
Fair priceestimated
One jin is 600 g. Below NT$800, be sceptical.
A reasonable range is NT$1,300–2,600 per 600 g. Below NT$800, ask more questions. This range is estimated from nearby regions and elevation; it has not been verified against listed prices.
What to ask when buying this
One region can span 700 m to 1,700 m, with several times the price difference. The same name does not mean the same grade.
This price range is estimated from nearby regions and elevation and has not been verified, so compare for yourself.
Spring and winter lots fetch the highest prices and the best aroma; summer and autumn are a step down in both.
If they will not let you taste but want you to buy 600 g of something expensive, walk away. It is the simplest and most effective filter there is.
Specifications
About the origin
Caopingtou Yushan tea garden is a small village beside the Central Cross-Island Highway, known for oolong. Some three thousand cherry trees of many varieties grow here, including the uncommon white cherry; in season they bloom against the plum and peach blossom across the community.
These figures will be updated if they change.
Brewing
Temperatures follow the official category guidance. Source: TRES — Effects of water quality and temperature on tea liquor
Common mistakes with this tea
95°C or above. Too cool and the roast aroma never opens, leaving it flat.
Rolled-ball leaf needs the first infusion to open up; the second is then shorter.
Best drunk within two months.
The most common beginner regret is buying 600 g on the first try. Buy a jin only after you know you like it.
What to eat with it
Glutinous rice clings and the sweetness lingers on the tongue. A tea with some astringency clears it away.
Location accuracy: named locality (23.5200, 120.8500). This marks the growing area, not one specific garden.