Ba Xian is arguably one of the most popular Phoenix Dan Cong teas in its hometown of Chaozhou. Particularly in recent years, its popularity has surged. However, due to its rarity and limited production, Ba Xian commands high prices in the market, making it increasingly difficult to obtain each year.
Among producers in Fenghuang Town, when a tea of truly exceptional quality is created, it is proudly labeled as their special offering, called "Ba Xian Wang" (King of Ba Xian). This designation is a testament to the producer's confidence and is often associated with competition-grade teas.
According to a tale from Fenghuang Town, about 70-80 years ago, a farmer in Fenghuang discovered a tea tree with a unique flavor in a place called Quzailiao. Impressed by its flavor, he decided to propagate it through cuttings and planted many saplings on the mountains behind Yahu Village. However, the survival rate of these trees was unexpectedly low, and only eight trees survived across the entire mountain. Because of this, the farmer named the variety "Ba Xian" (Eight Immortals). The original mother tree has long since perished, and it is said that only two to three of the original eight trees remain today.
In recent years, advancements in grafting techniques have encouraged farmers to graft Ba Xian onto older tea trees. Yet, even with grafting, the survival rate of this variety remains extremely low, particularly when grafted onto century-old trees. As a result, existing Ba Xian trees with over 100 years of history are exceptionally rare. Additionally, Ba Xian trees have a characteristic sparse and elongated shape, making them difficult to cultivate as single-tree teas compared to other tea varieties that grow densely in fan shapes.
This product is harvested from tea trees approximately 100 years old, located at an altitude of 1200m in Guizhu Lake Village, Wudong Mountain. These trees were grafted onto seed-grown old tea trees over eight years ago, achieving a quality level comparable to the rootstock. The tea offers a profoundly long aftertaste and an impressively soft texture, creating an impression reminiscent of tea made from centuries-old trees. Likely, the exceptional quality of this tea is a result of the ideal combination of Ba Xian's unique traits, altitude, and soil conditions.
Ba Xian belongs to the Zhi Lan Xiang aroma type and is known for its robust top notes. The flavor evokes mangoes, lilies, honeysuckle, and flowers of plants in the ginger family, accompanied by a rich scent of frankincense.
We frequently visit Fenghuang Town in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, to source high-quality Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong tea directly.
An old Phoenix Dan Cong tree on Wu Dong Shan and me, Akira Hojo
Tea trees growing on the steep, rocky slopes of Wu Dong Shan
Among Dan Cong teas, tea harvested from especially old trees is called "Lao Cong."
