Phoenix Oolong Lao Cong Gui Hua Xiang Single Tree 2022鳳凰単叢 老欉桂花香単株 2022

Phoenix Dan Cong Lao Cong Gui Hua Xiang Danzhu (桂花香單株) is harvested from a 250-year-old single tree in Touya Village (頭埡村), situated at an altitude of 1000m.

"Gui Hua Xiang" (桂花香) refers to the fragrance of osmanthus flowers. Osmanthus-scented oolong teas are highly popular, with both China and Taiwan producing teas known as Gui Hua Oolong. However, these teas are typically infused with osmanthus aroma rather than naturally possessing it.

In reality, many Phoenix Dan Cong teas labeled as Gui Hua Xiang have been artificially scented. Teas with added fragrance exhibit an intense osmanthus scent in their dry leaves. During sourcing trips in the region, artificially scented versions of Gui Hua Xiang are frequently encountered.

However, this tea is not artificially infused with osmanthus aroma. Instead, its natural cultivar characteristics and fermentation process produce an authentic osmanthus-like fragrance, making it an exceptionally rare tea.

Having tasted multiple Phoenix Dan Cong Gui Hua Xiang teas in the past, most failed to exhibit a noticeable osmanthus flavor. In most cases, the fragrance was so subtle that it required deliberate effort to detect.

This particular tea possesses a remarkably strong osmanthus fragrance, which genuinely astonished me upon first tasting. As a single-tree tea, it is quite expensive, but it provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience the authentic Gui Hua Xiang profile.