Oolong Tea in Doi Mae Salong: Why This Mountain Village Brews Some of Thailand's Best

If you've ever wondered where Thailand's best oolong tea comes from, the answer is up in the mountains. Doi Mae Salong (Santikhiri), a quiet village in Chiang Rai province, has been growing and producing oolong tea for decades — and once you visit, you'll understand why the tea here tastes the way it does. It's the altitude, the cool air, the misty mornings, and the care that goes into every step.

How oolong tea found its home on Doi Mae Salong

Mae Salong's tea story begins with its people. In the 1960s and 70s, former Chinese Nationalist (KMT) soldiers and their families, originally from Yunnan province, settled in these mountains. They brought with them not just their language and food, but also their deep knowledge of tea cultivation. The cool climate and fertile mountain soil turned out to be ideal for growing tea — especially oolong — and what started as small family plots gradually became the heart of Thailand's premium tea region.

Today, the hillsides are covered in neatly terraced tea gardens, and tea is woven into daily life here. It's not just a crop — it's culture, livelihood, and identity.

What makes Doi Mae Salong oolong special

Not all oolong is the same, and Mae Salong's version stands apart for a few reasons. The elevation — roughly 1,200 metres above sea level — means cooler temperatures and slower leaf growth, which gives the tea more complexity and depth. The misty conditions add natural moisture, and the mountain soil brings out a sweetness that's hard to replicate at lower altitudes.

Most producers here follow traditional methods: hand-picking the leaves, sun-withering, careful rolling, and controlled oxidation. The result is a tea that's smooth, aromatic, and layered — sometimes floral, sometimes toasty, depending on how it's processed. If you've only tried oolong from a teabag, tasting it fresh from the source is a completely different experience.

And it's not just local pride — the quality has been recognized internationally. In 2004, oolong tea from 101 Tea Plantation, Doi Mae Salong won first place at the World Tea Festival, putting this small mountain village on the global tea map.

How to experience oolong tea when you visit

You don't need to be a tea expert to enjoy Mae Salong's tea culture. Most tea shops welcome visitors warmly and are happy to walk you through a tasting. Here's what you can look forward to:

Tea tasting sessions — Sit down at a small tea table and try different oolong styles side by side. You'll notice how the aroma, color, and aftertaste shift between varieties. It's relaxed, unhurried, and surprisingly fun — think of it as a "wine tasting" but with tea and mountain views.

Tea garden walks — Many plantations allow visitors to walk through the fields. Early morning is magical, especially when the mist is still hanging low over the rows. You'll see how the leaves are grown and get a sense of the landscape that shapes the flavor.

Buying tea to bring home — Whether it's loose leaf, tea gifts, or specialty blends, Mae Salong is the place to stock up. Buying directly from local shops means fresher tea and better prices than you'd find in the city. Oolong is the signature, but you'll also find green tea and Jin Xuan (milk oolong) varieties worth trying.

A cup with a view

One of the best things about tea in Mae Salong is where you get to drink it. This isn't a rushed café experience — it's tea on a mountain, with cool air and green hills stretching out in front of you. At places like 101 Tea Green View, you can sip your oolong on a tea plantation balcony surrounded by the very fields where it was grown. It's the kind of moment that stays with you.

Why it matters

Mae Salong's tea isn't mass-produced or rushed. It's made by families who've been doing this for generations, using methods passed down and refined over time. When you buy a bag of oolong here or sit down for a tasting, you're supporting a living tradition — and tasting the result of decades of mountain knowledge.

If your Chiang Rai trip includes Doi Mae Salong, make tea more than just a souvenir. Make it part of the experience.