Fenghuang Dancong is a prized type of oolong tea grown in the Phoenix Mountains (Fenghuang Shan) of Guangdong Province, China. Renowned for its complex flavors and aromas, Dancong tea offers a unique sensory experience for oolong aficionados. In this blog post, we’ll explore the origins, flavors, and appeal of this exceptional Chinese tea.
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The Terroir of Fenghuang Dancong
What makes Fenhuang Dancong tea special? It’s the unique growing conditions.
The Phoenix Mountains provide an ideal terroir (environmental conditions like soil, climate, and elevation that impact flavor) for producing premium oolong tea. Just as an aside, when I first learned the term “terroir” in relation to tea, I was impressed by how aptly it captured the uniqueness of tea flavors. Terroir explains why teas from different regions, even the same type of tea, can taste so radically different.
The concept made me realize that a tea’s essence comes from more than just processing – the minerals in the soil, rainfall, mist, sun exposure all influence the leaf’s flavor. Terroir shows how teas reflect the local environmental conditions. It demonstrates why Darjeelings have dynamic notes while Japanese matchas offer umami calm.
In short, terroir perfectly encapsulates how teas absorb flavors from the land itself. When I learned this singular word summed up tea’s connection to the land, I was thoroughly captivated.
So the terroir for Dancong tea encompasses:
- Elevation between 350-1560 meters above sea level
- Main production in Wudong Village (1391m elevation)
- Phoenix Mountains known for excellent conditions for tea growth
- Mineral-rich sandy loam soil
- Mild climate with fog and mist
- Ideal for growing tea bushes with concentrated flavors
With high elevation, nutrient-rich soil, and a misty climate, the Phoenix Mountains grow tea leaves with intense floral and fruity flavors. Each batch of Fenghuang Dancong carries the essence of this distinctive terroir.
Unique Processing Method
Dancong means “single bush” referring to the cultivation method where bushes are grown far apart to encourage deep roots. The plucking and processing is also unique. The tea leaves are oxidized 30-35% and roasted over charcoal to bring out the signature Dancong flavors. This special processing amplifies the terroir, yielding an oolong with complexity and a slight astringency.
Mimicking Nature’s Bounty
One of the distinguishing features of Dancong tea is that the varieties are named after the natural flavors they resemble. There are floral, fruity, honey, and woody varieties that mimic nature’s essence. The most prized is Mi Lan Xiang, which has an intoxicating honeyed orchid fragrance. Each sip contains the mountain’s bounty distilled into a single leaf.
Top Fenghuang Dancong Varieties
While all Dancong teas are excellent, aficionados have their favorites:
- Mi Lan Xiang (Honey Orchid)
- Shui Xian (Narcissus)
- Bai Ye (White Leaf)
- Song Zhong (Pine Smoking)
- Ba Xian (Eight Immortals)
- Gui Hua (Osmanthus Flower)
The Mi Lan Xiang, with its honeyed orchid fragrance, is highly sought after. Shui Xian has a heady narcissus aroma, Bai Ye a gentle white flower flavor, and Song Zhong a wisp of pine smoke.
Ba Xian and Gui Hua deliver an orchestra of 8 immortals and osmanthus. Each variety is a sensory experience.
Appealing Qualities of Dancong Tea
What makes Dancong so appealing to oolong fans?
It offers an intricate flavor profile with floral, fruity, and mineral notes. Despite the complexity, it has a soft, rounded mouthfeel. The sweet aftertaste lingers long after sipping. And the flavor unveils itself across multiple infusions, keeping your interest cup after cup.
Buying Quality Dancong Tea
To get the best Dancong tea experience, buy from a trusted source. Spring harvest produces the most complex leaves, though Autumn is also acceptable. Check for a recent harvest year and whole, unbroken leaves. High elevation areas like Wudong Village yield more intense flavor.
How Should I Store My Tea?
Proper storage is key to preserve the complex flavors of Fenhuang Dancong oolong tea. Follow these rules to keep those leaves vibrant for months.
Dancong oolong can maintain quality for over a year stored correctly. Its shelf life depends partly on oxidation level, with less oxidized varieties lasting a shorter time. Green and white teas need consuming within 6-12 months, while oxidized oolongs stay fresh for 1-2 years.
Always keep Dancong in a truly airtight container, away from moisture and odors. Exposure to air can cause the leaves to stale faster. Tea easily absorbs adjacent scents, so store away from pungent spices and fragrant soaps. Excess moisture leads to mold, so avoid damp basements or bathrooms.
Heat and light are enemies of freshness too. Warm temperatures accelerate chemical changes in the leaves. Store Dancong away from appliances like stoves, dishwashers or hot water heaters. And never use transparent glass or plastic containers. Light damages the tea’s oils and alters its flavor.
For aged Dancong oolong, additional steps preserve quality. Re-roasting returns oils lost during aging. And specialized aged tea storage rooms have climate controls optimized for fermented leaves.
With the proper airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place, your Fenhuang Dancong can continue delighting your senses for many months post-purchase.
Brewing Guidelines For Fenghuang Dancong Tea
Dancong Oolong requires meticulous hand labor and months of resting before releasing its complex aromas. This prized tea deserves an equally meticulous brewing to extract its full potential. Follow these tips to coax the most out of Dancong’s layered flavors.
First, gather the proper brewing equipment. For the traditional Guangdong style, you’ll need a standard-sized gaiwan, a glass pitcher, and tiny half-ounce tasting cups. The Wuyi style uses a gaiwan filled to the brim with leaf and slightly larger cups.
Next, start with pure, mineral-rich spring water. Don’t taint Dancong’s delicate flavors with inferior water.
Guangdong style brewing
The Guangdong style aims to push the tea to its limits and reveal any imperfections. Fill the gaiwan with leaf and pour in that freshly boiled water. Going beyond 30 seconds risks extreme bitterness, so hover at the edge of tolerance. Sip the brew from thimble-sized cups, letting the bitter edge soften into sweet nectar with lingering floral aromas.
Wuyi style brewing
For the Wuyi style, cram 8-10 grams of leaf into the gaiwan and give it a quick rinse. The first 10-second infusion teases rather than overwhelms. Let the sweet demureness seduce your senses as the textures build across multiple steepings. Here the gaiwan becomes a time machine, whisking you through the tea’s evolving layers.
Both styles demand total presence in the moment. Follow the tea’s lead and adjust the timing or quantity to reveal its true character. If bitterness overwhelms, shorten the steep time or use less leaf. If it seems too fleeting, extend your infusion or add more leaves. Find the Goldilocks zone for your particular batch of Dancong tea.
Savor the Exceptional Complexity
Fenghuang Dancong is an oolong aficionado’s dream, offering an intricate sensory experience in each cup. From the distinctive Phoenix Mountain terroir to special cultivation and processing methods, Dancong delivers remarkable complexity, aromas, and mouthfeel. Sip slowly and savor this exceptional oolong. The Phoenix Mountains in a leaf await.
