We frequently visit Phoenix Town in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, to source good Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea directly on site.
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
We are releasing a new lot (2022 harvest) of Phoenix Oolong Ba Xian, our first since 2021. After several years of aging, it has come out in very good condition.
Ba Xian from Ding Ping Keng Tou Village, Hard to Obtain Even Locally
This Ba Xian was harvested from a tea garden in Ding Ping Keng Tou Village (Wu Dong mountain range), at an altitude of about 1000m, where the trees are 50 years old. Tea leaves grown at high altitude are rich in compounds, and they are characterized by a soft, concentrated flavor and a vivid flavor that returns after drinking. In Phoenix Town, leaves from high altitudes are also regarded as very rare, and because Ba Xian trees have weak vigor and rarely live long, the number of old trees is limited.
Ba Xian, a Cultivar Especially Popular in Chaozhou and Shantou
Ba Xian is a highly popular cultivar not only in Phoenix Town but also in Chaozhou and Shantou. The reason lies in the clarity of its refined, vivid orchid-like flavor. It is known as the "Zhi Lan Xiang aroma type," and it has depth not only in flavor but also in taste, with an excellent balance of sweetness, smoothness, and lingering finish. Lao Cong Ba Xian in particular is rare, and tea grown at high altitude sells out quickly even on the market.
The Captivating Flavor of Ba Xian, Woven from Orchid and Fruit Notes
This tea was slowly charcoal roasted at a low temperature and finished in the Qing Xiang style. Centered on the elegant flavor of orchid and lily flowers, fruit notes of pomegranate and raspberry are layered in complexity, giving the flavor depth. This is a tea to enjoy for the vivid returning flavor that rises after swallowing. Because it was grown in a high-altitude tea garden, the mouthfeel is soft and creamy, and it drinks gently and clearly.
