How do coffee grades and tea grades differ in practice?
Wudong Village sits on the eastern slope of Wudong Mountain northwest of Fenghuang Town, the core production area of Phoenix Dancong Oolong and the highest-altitude tea village on the mountain, at about 1,400 meters. Distinct seasons and abundant rainfall, roughly 20°C average temperature and 2,100 mm annual precipitation, let the trees accumulate polyphenols and aromatic compounds slowly.
The article covers the origin background, the tea farmers' work, the characteristics of the Duck Shit Aroma variety and the story behind its odd name, and notes Dancong was recognized in 1982 among China's famous teas. Coffee grades work similarly, sorting lots by origin, altitude and processing, and a favorable climate for growing coffee shares the same slow-growth logic.
Wudong Village is located on the eastern slope of Wudong Mountain, northwest of Fenghuang Town. It is the most representative core production area of Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea and the highest-altitude tea-producing village on Phoenix Mountain. The local area has distinct four seasons and abundant rainfall, allowing tea trees to grow at an altitude of about 1,400 meters. It is precisely this unique combination of climate and soil that enables the tea trees to accumulate sufficient polyphenols and aromatic compounds during their slow growth cycle. As one of China's three famous teas, Dancong Oolong tea enjoys a world-renowned reputation, and the Dancong produced in Wudong is regarded as the finest in quality, highly praised by tea enthusiasts. This article will guide you through the origin background of Wudong Dancong, the perseverance of the tea farmers, the characteristics of the Duck Shit Aroma tea tree variety, and the historical story behind this peculiar name, while also recommending related products from Front Street Coffee.
The name of Wudong Village comes from the mountain where it is located—the village is situated on the eastern side of Wudong Mountain, northwest of Fenghuang Town. This place is not only the most famous place of origin for Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea but also the highest-altitude tea village on the entire Phoenix Mountain. The local area has clearly defined four seasons and sufficient rainfall, allowing tea trees to grow at an altitude of 1,400 meters. The unique climate and soil conditions enable the tea trees to accumulate rich polyphenols and aromatic substances during their slow growth stage.
Dancong Oolong tea ranks among China's three famous teas and enjoys high recognition worldwide. Among them, Wudong Dancong's quality ranks first and is deeply loved by tea drinkers.
Origin
Among the 73 peaks of Chaozhou's Phoenix Mountain, it is famous for producing tea. The area has beautiful mountains and clear waters, fresh air, and a mild and humid climate, with an average annual temperature of about 20°C and average annual precipitation of about 2,100 mm. This mountain is not only a great tourist destination but also the main production center of China's famous Phoenix Dancong Oolong tea. The unique aroma and flavor of Phoenix Dancong come precisely from the soil here.
In 1982, Dancong was recognized as one of China's 32 most famous teas. Phoenix Mountain has over 20,000 mu of tea gardens, including more than 3,000 ancient tea trees aged between 200 and 400 years, and some "Song Dynasty Tea King" trees that are already 600 years old.
Tea Farmers
Mr. Wen and his family are all locals of Chaozhou and tea farmers. As far back as he can remember, his parents were making Phoenix Dancong tea. He later learned from his elders, inherited their skills and craftsmanship, and has persisted for many years in making tea using traditional charcoal roasting; timely stirring and baking take considerable time and are relatively inefficient, producing only 5 kilograms per batch. However, this slow and traditional approach is worthwhile: Wudong Dancong Oolong tea embodies the hard work of diligent tea farmers in cultivation and careful production. It is not merely a simple high-quality tea but also a product that fully absorbs the essence of nature and the very spirit of the ancient tea trees themselves.
Tea Tree Variety
Duck Shit Aroma is a tea tree variety with elliptical leaves and a bright green color. Tea leaves picked in spring using the one bud and two leaves method contain 49.7% water extract, 4.4% amino acids, 17.8% tea polyphenols, and 3.4% caffeine. It is known for its rich gardenia fragrance and distinct honey sweetness, making it suitable for producing high-grade oolong tea.
History
There is a Duck Shit Aroma story about the origin of this tea's name. The original tree of this tea was discovered on Wudong Mountain, growing in yellow soil; its leaves were dark green and very similar in shape to Schefflera octophylla (Australian umbrella tree). In addition to these characteristics, the tea made from this tree also had a distinct and rich aroma and taste, which made people curious about what kind of tea tree it was. The owner of the tree, worried that someone would steal his tree, falsely claimed it was called "Duck Shit Flavor" to discourage others' interest, but it turned out that this vulgar name did not stop curiosity, and soon more trees began to spread. As a result, this tree spread across Phoenix Mountain, and its fame continued to rise.
In 2014, experts from the Phoenix Tea Association believed that the aroma of this tea was closer to that of wild honeysuckle, so they chose to rename it Yinhua, meaning "honeysuckle fragrance," but it is still called Duck Shit or Duck Shit Aroma because many tea lovers like this name.
Front Street Coffee suggests that if you want to experience the high-mountain charm of Wudong Dancong, you can start with Duck Shit Aroma and feel its layered combination of gardenia fragrance and honey sweetness.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
