Wudong Cassia, Phoenix dancong oolong

Wudong Cassia, Phoenix dancong oolong

(3 customer reviews)

$ 30.30

Rougui Xiang Dancong

Although the name rougui is the same as that variety from Wuyi, this tea is from a pure breed Fenghuang Dancong Shuixian cultivar. Sexual propagation of tea trees does give happy surprises and this is an example of it. Discovered and isolated in 1970 by a horticulturalist Mr Wei and has maintained a low profile to avoid unneeded trouble during the height of Cultural Revolution, the cultivar Fenghuang Rougui Xiang Dancong  is only gradually picking up attention recently. Not all farmers are doing it right. It is a slow growing tea and only one harvest per year. We think every leaf is worth the search.

ClassInfusion colour: GoldTCM character: NeutralStaff pickTea Master's Choice

Net weight: 40 g (1.4 oz) in Kraft-alu pack

In stock

000

珍品鳳凰單欉 烏崠肉桂香

Taste profile:

Nose: Buttery sweet, round fragrance with accents of cinnamon, beetroot sugar and shortbread on a bouquet overtone. Palate: Creamy, sweet, round body enlivened with sparks of kumquat and light accents of fresh mint. High notes of fresh ginseng with persistent undertone of cinnamon. Finish: Soft, yet long-lasting sweet aftertaste from front upper palate to under the throat, continued to be accented with kumquat, fresh ginseng and cinnamon.

Infusion tips:

If you prefer a soft, sweet tea with a comfortable yet characteristic fine tea, infuse at slightly above 90°C. However, if you want enough high pitch to really ring the accents in the taste profile, use water slightly below boiling point but add it in a small stream circling round the ball of tealeaves, never hit the middle, or you lose the completeness of the wonderful uniqueness of this tea. Always preheat your vessels.

Additional information

Weight 90 g
Dimensions 18 × 9 × 5 cm
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Reviews(3)

  1. I’ve had many teas that share the same label as this Wudong Cassia and I can conclude right off the bat, this is exceptional.

    The first sense from the brew is warm and creamy like soaking my nose with freshly baked biscuits, the mouthfeel is superbly round, buttery and expanding with hints of floral notes and a touch of lime zest, orange, cool spices, then finishes with long cool mints.

    Warm to the nose and cool to the throat. This is what I am looking for when trying Phoenix oolongs.
    It’s force is also tantalising, poping up like fireworks, made me hungry to drink it more and more.

    This is amongst the head of the pack, the group of “Medicinal” aroma Phoenix oolong which I personally love to indulge and explore.

    • There! Indeed you do know about Phoenix oolongs. In the “medicine” aroma group of Fenghuang Dancong, there are also Jiang Mu Xiang and Xing Ren Xiang. Another customer, N.N., who also commented on this tea has mentioned Jiang Mu Xiang, which I was incidentally enjoying a private batch this morning with my wife, but have not decided yet whether to carry it. The same dilemma as I have previously mentioned, whether to offer it at a quality level that I truly enjoy as a tea lover, or making more commercial sense to maintain a sustainable profit. As for Xing Ren Xiang, you have already given your fantastic comments in the Orchid Gratus page in a review last year. And I thank you again.

  2. Fenghuang Rou Gui is an exceptionally rare cultivar, and makes for a very intriguing experience for the seasoned dancong aficionado who has been around the block with many of the usual Shui Xian hybrids.

    This dancong is incredibly creamy and smooth, with a velvety texture and an oily viscosity to it that quickly spreads throughout the mouth and coats the entire throat as I continue to work the magical soup down into my belly.

    The evolution of flavors and textures is stellar; across the full session, there is much to appreciate in every sip, and as I continue to work my way through the tea, it’s hard to miss the “wow” factor that these leaves bring. This is seriously impressive.

    The initial sensations remind me of freshly churned butter and heavy cream infused with a touch of sweet cinnamon; it’s soft and round with no discernible edges to it, and has a warming spicy quality. The mouthfeel is doughy and chewy, like freshly baked scones or shortbread.

    As the silky-smooth buttery notes melt away on the palate, they reveal a gorgeous bouquet of florals which remind me of white magnolia and lilies – but not just the blossoms, I’m talking about the stalks and stems too. This is a very three-dimensional experience, with great depth and nuance in every aspect of the flavor profile.

    The milky, flowery notes get stronger even half-way through the session, and are joined by a powerful and characteristic dancong minerality which adds a lot of texture to the mouthfeel. It isn’t aggressive, but adds a touch of sharpness that gently cuts through the smooth, buttery-like qualities initially perceived on the palate, leaving behind what is undoubtedly a vibrant and earthy note of ginseng with slightly tart undertones which remind me of hibiscus flowers and cherries.

    Towards the end of my session, those fruity undertones start to rise to the surface of the flavor profile, carrying with them a distinct fruity sweetness that is seamlessly integrated with notes of ginseng root soaked in cinnamon oil.

    My favorite part about this tea is just how complex the mouthfeel is, and how much it changes over the course of a good, focused session. If you are a fan of the Jiang Mu cultivar, you don’t want to miss this one, it will certainly elevate your appreciation and understanding of Fenghuang dancong.

    • Much obliged for appreciating this tea. And a sincere thank you for such a wonderfully descriptive account of your experience. For me as a merchant, it was a difficult decision whether to offer this variety at the topmost quality or to offer a production that is ample enough to carry that “Fenghuang Cassia” cultivar signature but maintaining a lower price so that a stepping price range for different affordability can be maintained in the Phoenix line. There are already a few items in the collection that are top quality afterall. In the end I did both. For one, this batch really is exceptional, and the next quality down is simply far less mesmerising. It simply feels sinful not to share such a great harvest. So I made a not so wise decision. To carry this batch at an affordable price, I simply lower the profit margin. If this silly effort can make this lesser known variety appreciated by more, it is still worthwhile. True quality should prevail. Maybe this world can be a bit nicer when less dragged by pretence, falsehoods and mediocracies.

    • Much obliged for appreciating this tea. And a sincere thank you for such a wonderfully descriptive account of your experience. For me as a merchant, it was a difficult decision whether to offer this variety at the topmost quality or to offer a production that is ample enough to carry that “Fenghuang Cassia” cultivar traits but maintaining a lower price so that a stepping price range for different affordability can be maintained in the Phoenix line. There are already a few items in the collection that are top quality anyway. In the end I did both. For one, this batch really is exceptional, and the next quality down is simply far less mesmerising. It simply feels sinful not to share such a great harvest. So I made a not so wise decision. To carry this batch at a friendlier price, I simply lower the profit margin. If this silly effort can make this lesser known variety appreciated by more, it is still worthwhile. True quality should prevail. Just hope this world can be a bit nicer when less dragged by pretence, falsehoods and mediocracies.

  3. Beautiful amber color

    I get great satisfaction comparing the dry bark-like strands to the plump infused leaves that grow and expand, coming alive in the gaiwan. For an American who is used to powder in a tea bag, this is quite an epiphany. I can never go back to tea bags now. Tea Hong has spoiled me forever. The fragrant taste on the upper palate and into the nasal area is a religious experience.

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