Wudong Xing Ren Xiang (Almond Aroma) Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea

Ju Duo Zai, also known as Xing Ren Xiang (or ‘almond aroma’) is one of the ten types of flavors of Phoenix dan cong, each named for their unique aroma. TeaVivre’s Xing Ren Xiang dan cong is a light-roasted, twice-baked oolong. Compared with our Nonpareil Wudong Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea, the leaves of this Xing Ren Xiang are small, and took more time for farmers to pick - which results in a more precious cup of tea.

The almond aroma this tea is named for comes out bright and full on the dry leaves, mixing with the deeper scents of the tea once brewed: floral and fruit fragrances come into the mix, with a hint of a milky aroma. The tea liquid is bright orange in color, with the first taste giving a delicate, sweet taste beneath the full-bodied mouthfeel. Meanwhile, the aroma blends well with the liquid, and leaves a full, sweet aftertaste. Overall this tea has a calming and long-lasting fragrance, sweet and soothing.

Note: For Wudong Dancong, tea that is harvested in April is often light baked with a greenish brown apperance. After that, it will be re-baked in June, September and December respectively. The re-baking of this tea has imparted a deep brownish-black color to the leaves, noticeably darker than before. For the first few infusions the most prominent note is the tea's floral fragrance, coming from the still-wrapped leaves; following a few more steeps, the leaves stretch out, allowing its fragrance to meld into a mellower, smoother taste that fills the mouth. The re-roasted Ya Shi Xiang has not only a mellower taste, but also a better interplay between the flavor and the fragrance as well.

	Cup Method		Chinese Gongfu Method
	Teacup: 12oz / 355ml		Gaiwan: 3.8oz / 110ml
	212℉ / 100℃		212℉ / 100℃
	3g Tea		8g Tea
	Brewing time: 3 - 5 mins		12 steeps: rinse, 10s, 13s, 18s, 20s, 23s, 25s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 65s, 80s, 100s
			Rinse time is around 5 seconds

Landscape of Mt. Wudong

Named after the mountain, Wudong Village is located along the eastern side of Wudong Mountain, northwest of Fenghuang Town. The village is not only the most famous producer of Phoenix dan cong oolong tea, but is also the highest-altitude tea village in all of the Fenghuang Mountains. The four seasons here are distinctly different, with abundant rainfall throughout allowing the tea trees to grow at 1400m above sea level. The special climate and soil conditions provide abundant polyphenols and aromatic substances for the tea trees during the slow growth periods.

As one of the three famous Chinese oolong teas, Dan Cong oolong is known throughout the world - and among this, Wudong Dan Cong is the highest-quality and, as such, the best-loved.

Wudong Village

The fresh tea leaves is only picked once a year in spring

The branches of the trees are blanketed in moss, which is a unique feature of high-mountain and ancient tea trees.

Newly picked danchong tea leaves
Photographs by TeaVivre Member Chris

The Chaozhou Phoenix Mountain, among the 73 Phoenix Mountains, is known for its tea. It has beautiful scenery, fresh air, and a mild, humid climate, with an annual average temperature of about 20℃ and average annual precipitation of around 2100 mm. The mountain is not only a tourist destination but also the main production center of China’s well-known Phoenix Dan Cong oolong tea, which draws its unique fragrance and taste from the soil.

In 1982, Dan Cong was recognized was one of China’s 32 most famous teas. Phoenix Mountain has over 20,000 acres devoted solely to tea gardens, among which is an ancient tea forest of over 3,000 trees between 200 and 400 years of age, with some “Song Zhong Tea King” trees as old as 600 years.

Mr. Wen and his family are all native Chaouzhou inhabitants and tea farmers, with his parents crafting Phoenix dan cong tea for as long as he can remember. He later learned from them and inherited their skill and craftsmanship, and has insisted on making teas with a traditional charcoal-baking craft for many years; by stirring and baking the teas in time, more time and energy is used with low efficiency, producing only 5kg each round. However, according to Mr. Wen and his family’s viewpoints, this slower, traditional method is worth it: Wudong Dan Cong oolong tea, planted and crafted by hard-working tea farmers with heart, is not only a simple, high-quality tea, but also one excellent in absorbing the essence of nature and the spirit of the ancient tea trees themselves.

Ju Duo Zai is bred out of the natural hybrid offspring of the Phoenix narcissus tea plant. People in Chao Shan gave it its name for the sawtooth edges of the leaves, which themselves are about medium in size and characterized by their glossy surface and deep green color.

There is a legend that during the Song Dynasty, the emperor passed by Phoenix Mountain. Being quite thirsty, he asked one of his soldiers to pick some tea leaves for him to drink, and upon doing so, the emperor discovered the unique quality of the tea from this area; from then on, people specially searched for and cultivated this kind of tree, and named it Song Zhong.

With the 1990s came an increased in the area used to grow tea, which in turn led to a heightened quality of production. From 1982 and onwards, Phoenix has earned many Chinese tea awards. Dan Cong has always been known as the king of tea, with many tea lovers all over the world regarding it as a treasure.