Ben Shan
A Tieguanyin cousin with bolder, woodier orchid notes. Anxi's reliable everyday oolong.
Ben Shan (本山, "Source Mountain") is one of the four traditional Anxi oolong cultivars, selected in Anxi County around 1870. It is closely associated with Tieguanyin and is frequently grown beside it; cheaper Ben Shan is sometimes passed off as Tieguanyin, though true Ben Shan has its own character.
The cup is orchid-floral like Tieguanyin but bolder, woodier and a touch less refined, with good honey sweetness. Hardy and high-yielding even on poorer soils, Ben Shan is a dependable everyday Anxi oolong and a useful reference point for understanding what makes premium Tieguanyin special.
Teas produced
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Fujian (Anxi)
Origins where Ben Shan grows
Brands likely carrying Ben Shan
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.