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High Mountains
The best teas in the world grow in
high mountains, generally defined as 800 meters or higher (2600
ft). However, many mountains in China have elevations well over
1200 meters, with constant fog cover shrouding the tender tea leaves,
keeping them cool, and in steep, terraced hillsides of 45 degree slopes
or more, where fresh mountain spring waters can run downhill without
pooling. It is important that teas grow in such conditions, because
grown in flat, low lying areas mean lots of pooling water that breeds
pests. Also, lower lying areas tend to experience hotter weather, which
produces coarse, rough tea leaves. Conversely, teas grown in optimal
mountains are small, tender, and dark green. When grown in such
steep mountains, teas must be harvested by hand, and can not be cut by
machine and therefore, generally not favored by corporate or
industrialized farms.
Some famous tea mountains include:
Lu Shan, Jiangxi Province, China
Huang Shan, Anhui Province, China
E Mei Shan, Sichuan, China
Wuyi, Fujian China
Feng Huang Shan (Phoenix), Guangdong, China
Tai Mu Shan, Fujian, China
Yao Yang, Bao Shan, at Anxi, Fujian, China
6 Ancient Mountains, XishuangBanna, Yunnan China
Tung Ting, Taiwan
Ali Shan, Taiwan
Wenshan, Taiwan
Li Shan, Taiwan
San Lin She, Taiwan
 
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