Phoenix Dan Cong, also known as Fenghuang DanCong in Chinese, is a oolong tea from Guangdong province in southern China. This variety of oolong tea grows in the famous Phoenix Mountains. It is an exceptionally delicious tea to drink gong fu style. With each brew you can experience new aromas and flavors. Mostly floral, with some fruitiness, sweetness, and earthiness!
What Is Oolong Tea?
Oolong refers to a category of semi-oxidized teas (they fall between un-oxidized green teas and fully oxidized black teas) that can only be made from certain types of tea trees growing in specific geographical regions.
It can also be separated into four main types of oolong – Tie Guan Yin (southern Fujian province); Wuyi rock oolong (northern Fujian); Taiwanese oolong; and Dan Cong oolong from Guangdong province
DanCong Oolong
The word "Dan Cong" translates as "single bush”. A dancong oolong “garden” greatly differs from your typical tea garden. Whereas most tea gardens have short tea bushes growing in rows and pretty much similar in shape, what makes Dan Cong tea bushes special is that they are wild. No Dan Cong bush is the same, in fact they resemble trees more than bushes and grow pretty chaotically, sometimes reaching 16 ft in height.
This is true to all teas, but especially with Phoenix DanCong tea, no batch is like the other because of how “wild” these trees are.
What makes Dan Cong special are the distinct varieties, each of which resembles its own aroma.
Currently, there are at least 10 Dan Cong varieties available, with new ones still being cultivated and discovered. When tea farmer discovers a new and unique flavor profile from their Dan Cong tree they work hard to preserve it.
The two most famous Dan Congs are:
• Ya Shi Xiang Dan Cong Oolong
Mellow and full, with a slight gardenia aroma.
Also known by its popular name "Duck Shit Aroma Oolong". Fortunately for us tea enthusiasts, the tea itself doesn't have the slightest hint of duck shit.
If you would like to find out more about this tea and why the name, be sure to check out our article — The Story Behind the Honey-Sweet Duck Shit Aroma Oolong.
• Mi Lan Xiang Dan Cong Oolong
Prominent honey and orchid aroma with a light and sweet floral taste.
Some of the other varieties of Dan Cong oolongs include: Yu Lan Xiang (magnolia fragrance), Xin Ren Xiang (almond fragrance), Zhi Lan Xiang (orchid fragrance), Po Tou Xiang (ginger blossom fragrance), Huang Zhi Xiang (geranium fragrance), You Hua Xiang (pomelo blossom fragrance), Rou Gui Xiang (cinnamon fragrance) Gui Hua Xiang (osmanthus blossom fragrance), and Mo Li Xiang (jasmine fragrance).
Brewing DanCong Oolong Gong Fu Style
Brewing guidelines for gong fu style Dan Cong Oolongs:
- water temperature: 205℉ / 95℃
- 6 grams of tea leaves
- time: rinse, then 5 sec + 5 sec for each subsequent infusion