The Oolong Tea Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong is one of Guangdong's semi-oxidized products with the most diverse and full-bodied character. Regarding these types of oolongs from single bush (Dan Cong), it is not always easy to define a variety with a single aroma since camellias with different fragrances often coexist in a garden and influence each other. In the case of this Ya Shi Xiang, however, there has been little alteration by neighboring plants and so it is easier to taste the peculiarities of this famous oolong variety.
Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea is a good choice for those who want a full-bodied brew with moderate intensity of flavor. In the mouth, in fact, this tea gives a pleasant perception of fullness leaving a clean and dry feeling on the finish. The flavor of the infusion is mainly floral with sweet notes of butter cookies. Finally, in the aftertaste, there is also a slight hint of vanilla sugar.
To have an even sweeter tasting experience, still staying in the Dan Cong, you can try our Milan Xiang Dan Cong Oolong Tea.
Tasting - Sight and Smell
The leaves of Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea appear various shades of brown, from deep brown to ochre. They are long, medium-sized and masterfully crafted: the shape is slightly rolled. The infusion already lets you smell intense notes of white flowers and monoi. Light hints of tropical fruits such as coconut, papaya, and pineapple in syrup also appear on the nose. An incredibly sweet and full-bodied tea with a complex and fragrant floral bouquet that knows how to impress with every sip.
Tasting Notes
GONG FU CHA
The first infusion of Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea opens with notes of magnolia, wisteria and monoi, with an extraordinary intensity. With the second infusion, hints of butter, cookies and shortbread also appear, albeit delicate on the palate. The third and subsequent infusions bring with them not only definite floral hints but also the sweetness of powdered sugar. The persistence is long, sweet and floral.
TO THE WEST
Flowers are definitely the most characteristic note of this Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea: we find magnolia, wisteria, monoi and a distant hint of jasmine. The evolution is smooth, with secondary notes of butter cookies and shortbread. A hint of vanilla sugar is added before a floral finish, with monoi and magnolia returning to dominate the finish.
Location of origin
Chaozhou, Guangdong - China
Production
After harvesting, the leaves of Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea wither in the sun for between 10 and 20 minutes, which is followed by a resting phase on indoor bamboo trays. From there, oxidation is initiated by manual massage of the leaf, which is performed by the master producer.
Once the tea reaches the desired level of oxidation (typically Dan Cong have between 50 percent and 80 percent oxidation) the leaves pass into a charcoal-heated kiln where enzymatic activity is stopped.
After this stage in the oven, the leaf is given its final shape by special machinery before moving on to leaf roasting cycles that allow the product to finish drying and enhance its flavors.
Method of Infusing Oolong Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Tea
We strongly recommend infusing Oolong Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Tea in the traditional Chinese method (Gong Fu Cha) with a Gaiwan with a capacity of about 100 ml. By following this preparation, with 5 grams of leaves, multiple infusions can be made that are useful to feel all the flavors of the tea to the fullest.
After a quick rinse of the leaves with water at a temperature of 90°C, a first infusion of 15 seconds can be made, and then, keeping the water at the same temperature, the product can be continued to be exploited by adding more to water and increasing the previous infusion time by about 10 seconds (15 - 25 - 35...).
For a more traditional preparation according to the Western style, we recommend 3 grams of leaves (about 2 teaspoons) in a 150 ml cup with water at 90°C for an infusion time of one and a half minutes.
For a better tasting experience, we suggest that you strain the infusion as soon as the established steeping time is over. However, the infusion timings we suggest can be slightly altered to your liking to achieve a more or less intense taste.
We recommend storing in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Benefits of Oolong Tea
The main benefits that can be derived from Oolong Teas stem from the significant content of mineral salts and antioxidant phenols in the leaves.
A number of studies, in fact, report that daily intake of Oolongs, such as this Ya Shi Xiang Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea, can affect bone health by improving the concentration of minerals in this tissue and promote a decrease in blood sugar due to the stimulating effect of phenols on insulin.
Oolong Teas also generally possess a low concentration of caffeine. This characteristic makes them suitable to be consumed at any time of the day even by people who are more sensitive to this exciting substance.
