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Fenghuang Dan Cong (Phoenix Mountain single-trunk or
single fragrance tea) tea is produced in the
north-east region of northern Guangdong Province (
nearby the city of Chazhou) and far north of the
place in southern Fujian Province where the famous
semiball-rolled style oolong teas ( such as Tieguanyin
) are made.
Whereas the most famous of the WuYi Shan rock oolong
teas ( yan cha ) are plucked from old, single-trunk
tea bushes, Fenghuang Dan Cong teas are plucked from
old, arbor-style tea trees, many of which are over 100
years old and have grown to be over twenty feet tall.
The oldest tea bushes are living treasures. Many of
them are hundreds of years old and have grown into
stately trees that feature a bush-like habit. These
trees yield fresh leaf of an extraordinary size, and
the resulting teas are extremely flavorful and
seductively aromatic. These tea trees and the tea that
is produced from their leaves are named after
'fragrances' that the aroma of the tea is reminiscent
of.
The best Fenghuang Dan Cong oolongs exhibit a
palate-teasing abundance of mineral, floral, and
ripe-stone fruit flavors in the cup. These teas are
charcoal-fired, and, like a fine burgundy wine,
require patience and diligent steeping to coax the
best flavor from the leaf. Fenghuang Dan Congs are
dark, medium to heavy roast strip-style oolongs. They
are easily recognized by their extraordinary flavor
and distinctive leaf style.
Mary Lou’s photograph captures a late spring
morning on Phoenix Mountain perfectly: the soft
blanket of clouds-and-mist lifts to reveal a
perfectly-formed Frenghuang Dan Cong bush waiting to be plucked.
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