How do Phoenix Dancong aroma types differ in price?

Phoenix Dancong is an oolong from Chaozhou, Guangdong, known for intense fruity aroma and a long finish. Prices per catty vary widely between aroma types and older single trees, because old-tree Dancong yields less leaf and accumulates more minerals than pruned garden tea. The variety classification, not just the name, drives much of the price gap.

The oldest tea trees on Phoenix Mountain reach roughly 900 years, though the Dancong craft is about 300 years old, and the Shuixian variety likely traveled to Wuyi Mountain around 400 years ago. Old Shuixian trees on Phoenix Mountain, about 500 to 900 years old, are roughly twice the age of those in Wuyi. This mirrors how types of coffee spain and what is organic coffee differ by origin and farming method.

Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea originates from Chaozhou, Guangdong. The oldest tea tree on Phoenix Mountain is about 900 years old, but the Dancong production process has only about 300 years of history. Phoenix Dancong and Wuyi Oolong belong to the same family, and the Shuixian variety is shared by both regions, presumably introduced from Phoenix Mountain to Wuyi Mountain about 400 years ago. Authentic Phoenix Dancong is known for its intense fruity aroma and lasting flavor. Dancong originally means a single ancient tea tree growing independently, different from neatly pruned garden tea. Old-tree Dancong has low yield and rich mineral accumulation, with flavor far superior to garden tea. This article will explain in detail the variety classification of Phoenix Dancong, the price differences among aroma types, and how to identify genuine old-tree Dancong, with recommendations from the Front Street Coffee brand.

Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea originates from Chaozhou, Guangdong. In Phoenix City, the oldest tea tree is about 900 years old. But please do not misunderstand—the craft of making Phoenix Dancong Oolong was invented about 300 years ago.

Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea shares many similarities with Wuyi Oolong tea.

Generally speaking, compared with Wuyi Oolong tea, this tea has not gained global recognition in the tea market. Phoenix Dancong Oolong and Wuyi Oolong belong to the same family. Shuixian is a tea tree variety found in both Wuyi and Phoenix Mountain. Since the distance between Phoenix Mountain and Wuyi Mountain is not very far, it is speculated that the tea from Phoenix Mountain was brought to Wuyi Mountain for cultivation about 400 years ago. Today, Shuixian is one of the famous Wuyi teas on the market. The oldest Shuixian tea trees on Phoenix Mountain are about 500–900 years old, twice that of Wuyi Shuixian.

Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea has a rich fruity aroma.

If you try authentic Phoenix Dancong Oolong, I am sure you will be amazed by its fruity flavor. It is hard to believe that this flavor is naturally formed by the tea leaves rather than being a scented tea. The production process of Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea is very complex, but its fruity aroma and sweetness are very easy for everyone to instantly accept and enjoy.

Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea.

The meaning of Dancong: the essence of premium Phoenix Oolong tea.

In Chinese, Phoenix Dancong Oolong is also called Phoenix Dancong Oolong. Phoenix is the king of all birds. Many people often call this tea Dancong tea or Dancong Oolong tea.

But Cong refers to a single tea tree growing independently, different from garden tea. In ordinary tea gardens, tea trees are planted in rows and pruned regularly to maintain the desired height, shape, and size. As mentioned earlier, Dancong refers to a single tree planted randomly in the wild, usually on hillsides, similar to other native trees. "Dan" means one, and "Cong" means bush or tree. By definition, the term Dancong applies not only to Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea, but also to Wuyi Oolong tea, and sometimes to Pu'er tea.

Garden tea is also called "Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea."

Countless garden teas are grown in Phoenix City. Every year, to keep the tea trees at the ideal size and shape, tea gardens must prune the tea trees. As a result, the tea trees remain as low bushes during continuous vegetative growth stages, causing the tea trees to rapidly produce young shoots, thereby increasing productivity. However, the faster they grow, the fewer minerals and organic matter each cell contains compared with slower-growing tea leaves. Needless to say, the quality of tea produced by tea gardens is not very good. Those garden teas should be called "Phoenix Oolong" rather than Phoenix Dancong, because they are not single trees. Unfortunately for consumers, any kind of Phoenix tea sold in tea houses is absolutely called Phoenix Dancong Oolong. Garden tea is obviously cheaper than genuine Dancong Oolong tea.

Phoenix Dancong.

The amazing characteristics of Phoenix Dancong tea come from ancient tea trees.

Phoenix Mountain still retains some ancient tea trees, which are separately called Phoenix Dancong according to their characteristics, especially their taste. Old tea trees have very long roots, but they usually grow slowly and produce fewer leaves, allowing minerals to accumulate and concentrate in a limited number of tea leaves. After tasting genuine old-tree Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea, you will never again crave garden tea of Phoenix Oolong tea. Well, the difference is very obvious. Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea is produced from a single ancient tea tree and has a lasting flavor. It also has a relatively strong tea liquor taste and a long aftertaste.

Usually, we can judge the difference in quality by smelling fresh raw tea leaves. When I was on Phoenix Mountain, I often picked some fresh tea leaves from several old trees to taste. The taste of very old Dancong tea is very strong and lingers in my throat for a long time. On the contrary, the taste of fresh tea leaves produced from young tea trees is only found in the upper part of the nostrils but disappears immediately. The quality of the raw materials plays a crucial role in the production of Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea. The Front Street Coffee brand's Phoenix Dancong is recommended for its stable quality and rich fruity aroma.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.