On a journey of experimentation to create the finest and freshest oolong teas in the world, we created Shangri-La Oolong as one of our first oolong experiments. This velvety brew will refresh and revitalize. Shangri-La Oolong also makes a delicious, refreshing cold brew that is perfect for the hot summer months. Shangri-La Oolong Tea originates from our tea estate in the eastern region of Nepal, nestled in the foothills of Mt. Kanchanjangha, the third-highest mountain in the world. Our close-knit community is ideally located between Illam, Nepal's most renowned tea-growing region, to the north, and the western borders of Darjeeling, India, capturing the benefits of both regions. Grown at altitudes of 1300 to 1800 meters (4,200 to 6,000 feet), our Shangri-La Oolong Tea thrives in the pristine Himalayan climate, resulting in its uniquely distinctive and fragrant flavor profile.

Oolong Tea (Camellia Sinensis)

Our Shangri-la Oolong is quite an artistic and unique loose-leaf bulk oolong tea. It is not as subtle and/or light as Taiwanese oolongs, rather, it mostly resembles some darker roasted Chinese Oolongs. It does not follow the multiple rolling and oxidation processes that a typical oolong would go through. Instead, matured leaves are plucked, withered for a few hours, and placed through an enzyme to soften the leaves and also stop the oxidation to a degree. The tea leaves then go through about a 30-40-minute rolling process at varying pressure levels. The soft and rubbery leaves are oxidized for another 2 hours before finishing the tea in a commercial dryer resulting in a darker quite heavily oxidized nutty oolong. We’ve been a fan of this oolong tea since its first production and have received tremendous positive reviews ever since.

Kanchanjangha Tea Estate and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd (KTERC). KTERC is Nepal’s first certified organic tea garden. Mr. Deepak Prakash Baskota founded it in 1984 intending to eliminate poverty in his neighborhood. It continues to be a model social enterprise that operates on cooperative infrastructure and prioritizes people and the environment over profit.

Both novice and experienced tea drinkers will be delighted by this loose-leaf oolong tea. There will undoubtedly be much discussion about whether this is better categorized as an oolong or a black tea, and the debate will continue to be lively. Those who appreciate Darjeeling teas or any Chinese or roasted Taiwanese oolongs will undoubtedly be positively amazed by this tea's capabilities. We also suggest that you try our oolong tea cold-brewed; you may find it to be quite different!