Phoenix Oolong Lao Cong Shan Qie Ye 2021

Shanqieye (山茄葉) refers to a tea cultivar whose leaves resemble those of a wild plant. The name originates from its leaf shape, which is said to resemble that of the Shanqie plant.

The mother tree of Phoenix Dan Cong Shanqieye died more than 30 years ago. The remaining trees today were preserved through grafting in the 1980s. It is said that grafted tea trees can reach the same quality as the original mother tree within approximately eight years.

Phoenix Dan Cong Shanqieye is a rare cultivar even within the Fenghuang region. In recent years, cultivars with floral fragrances, such as Ya Shi Xiang, have gained popularity, causing more subtly aromatic varieties like Shanqieye to become increasingly scarce. As a result, most of the remaining Shanqieye trees are old, with very few young trees in existence.

However, Shanqieye is known for its distinctive magnolia-like fragrance, which some enthusiasts particularly appreciate.
Below is an image of the actual tree.

This tea is sourced from Dongjiao Village, Fengxi, at an altitude of approximately 700m, harvested from trees around 70 years old.