Among the many aroma types of Phoenix Oolong, Jiang Hua Xiang has a distinctive character of its own. Although it tends to be overshadowed by teas with more appealing names, such as Mi Lan Xiang, it is well known locally for its vibrant and intense fragrance.
We sourced this tea in 2023 and aged it in Japan for two years under oxygen-free conditions. The aging process has further enhanced its fragrance, and we are now pleased to introduce it. 
A tea from high altitude and Ancient (Lao Cong) trees
This tea was made from tea trees about 60 years old at an altitude of 1200m in Gui Zhu Hu Village, near Tian Chi in the Wu Dong mountains. In Phoenix Oolong, both altitude and tree age are important factors that determine quality. This tea comes from high-altitude Lao Cong trees, and you can sense their quality the moment you pour hot water over the leaves. 
How the name Jiang Hua Xiang is classified
Phoenix Oolong names are classified in two main ways. One is the cultivar name, based on genetic lineage. The other is the aroma type, based on the aroma of the finished tea. (There are also names that come from the place of origin or the owner, but there are not many of them.)
Jiang Hua Xiang is not a cultivar name. It belongs to the aroma type classification, and a tea is called Jiang Hua Xiang when its flavor after processing matches the characteristics of Jiang Hua Xiang, which means ginger flower.
In practice, producers already know from experience which tea trees have the Jiang Hua Xiang character, and Jiang Hua Xiang is generally made from the same trees year after year, across generations.
An overwhelming flavor behind a less popular name
Jiang Hua Xiang does not have a showy name like Mi Lan Xiang, Xing Ren Xiang or Mi Tao Xiang, so it tends to be overlooked by oversea customer. In fact, it has one of the strongest flavors among Phoenix Oolongs, with a pronounced, distinctive character that anyone can recognize. Locally, its flavor is described as reminiscent of ginger flowers. There are few opportunities to encounter ginger flowers, so their scent is unfamiliar to many. Among flowers, lily, gardenia, magnolia, orchid (Cymbidium) and honeysuckle offer close comparisons. The middle notes also include peach-like flavors, such as white peach and nectarine. Its flavor profile is completely different from that of Mi Lan Xiang. Jiang Hua Xiang stands out for its powerful floral top note with a spicy edge, full of brightness and presence. 
The character of Lao Cong
As shown by the Lao Cong name, this tea has a long lingering finish, the flavor stays in the throat along with a sweet aftertaste, and it is very soft to drink. Lao Cong is a name for old tea trees, but the specific tree age standard differs by person and region; sometimes it means over 30 years, and sometimes over 50 years. However, for producers, Lao Cong does not simply mean old. The taste and flavor must also show the character of Lao Cong. In fact, the producer I work with sometimes declines to call a tea Lao Cong, even if it comes from the same old trees, in years when heavy rain has lowered the quality. The name carries that much weight.
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."
