Phoenix Lao Cong Gui Hua Xiang Dan Cong | HOJO Online Speciality Tea Shop

Ms.Lai with old tea tree

Why do we have to visit Phoenix town every year?

We have been visiting Phoenix town every year since 2010. Sometimes, my customers query and wonder why do I have to make trips there rather than just request some samples instead. Without a doubt, it would be easier, cost saving and time efficient if the right tea could be chosen without having to go there. Though, if we would to buy a lower grade Phoenix tea produced from a garden, then selecting tea based on tea samples would be sufficient. However, the tea we require is the Phoenix Dan Cong oolong where each batch of Dan Cong consists only less than 5 to 10 kg and there are multiple varieties. Therefore, it is essential to choose the ideal batch on the spot based on the tasting. In particular, there are some special tea such as Lao Cong Dan Cong oolong that only has less than 2 or 3kg in one particular batch. Only if we are there, the manufacturers will be willing to let us taste such tea face to face.

The Skills of Selecting Tea

If anyone just happens to visit the same manufacturers we did and wanted to select teas, their options of tea would be different than ours as the manufacturers generally select the tea according to the customer’s requirements. Selecting tea is different from tasting tea. When purchasing tea for our own consumption, we could just decide on the tea based on personal preference and impressions. Conversely, selection of tea for business requires a clear standard of criteria and a consistent tasting skills to acquire the desirable tea. Sometimes during our journey, we fall sick, catch a cold, suffer from food poisoning, lack of sleep or feeling ill for some reasons; we still need to maintain the consistency in selecting tea. For instance, there are several ways to verify the quality and precedence of tea. The after taste, body, the type of flavor, process defects, astringency and bitterness are the main criterion for selecting a good tea. We need to analyze the teas with each criterion and compare them to the market requirement.

In Phoenix town, we have tasted nearly 100 teas starting from the lowest grade tea. When we managed to taste the competition grade, it was already passed mid night. It was like a tea marathon and I felt really exhausted when I reached the hotel after completing the tasting.

We tasted nearly 100 types of Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong

We drank a number of tea before we could finalize our line-ups

We bought limited Lao Cong Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong

In addition to our regular line-ups, we have selected two very special types of Phoenix Dan Cong oolong tea this year. These are the teas from very old tea trees called Lao Cong. The age of the tea trees are more than 300 years old. These two teas are not even sent for the tea competition since the total quantity that the manufacturer could produce was less than 3kg. To send teas for a competition, they need to surrender a minimum of 1kg for evaluation and tasting. Due to its high quality and value, the manufacturers would not want to sacrifice such precious teas just for the competition. You may wonder what is so exceptional about these Lao Cong Phoenix Dan Cong. Well, these two teas produces extremely deep and long-lasting aftertaste and the drinking feeling is soft like cream and smooth. You may presume that the tea is penetrating into your throat; plus, the flavor is very thick and long lasting. These are the symbolic tea of Wu Dong Shan. The prices are certainly high that even I myself has very less chance to drink. As these teas are from Lao Cong, the quantity of one batch is very small and we have limited stock available.

2 special teas that we bought this year was

1. Lao Cong Gui Hua Xian Dan Cong : JPY9,300/15g, JPY23,000/40g,JPY68,000/120g and JPY163,000/360g
2. Lao Cong Sonzhong Dan Cong : JPY10,000/15g, JPY25,000/40g, JPY74,000/120g and JPY178,000/360g

If you do not want to miss these teas, please make a pre-booking.



Phoenix Lao Cong Gui Hua Xian Dan Cong 鳳凰烏崠老欉桂花香単叢





Phoenix Lao Cong Gui Hua Xiang Dan Cong 鳳凰烏崠老欉桂花香単叢: Gui Hua means Osmanthus flower