How Does Coffee Tree Origin Compare With High-Mountain Tea Terroir?
Terroir determines flavor in both tea and coffee. The Shitoujiao Tea Garden in Fenghuang Town, Chaozhou sits at about 900 meters near the Fenghuang Reservoir, where mist lingers year-round and yellow soil supports tea trees over forty years old. The same logic behind coffee tree origin applies here: altitude, humidity, and soil type shape the leaf and the cup.
The Phoenix Mountain area averages roughly 20°C and about 2,100 millimeters of rain a year, and its gardens cover more than twenty thousand mu. Growing conditions for coffee follow a similar pattern, which is why high-elevation sites with steady moisture and mineral-rich soil tend to produce denser, more aromatic crops, whether tea or coffee.
Phoenix Dancong is renowned for its rich aromatic layers, and among its varieties, the Da Wu Ye (Big Dark Leaf) is highly favored for its thick, soft leaves and prominent floral fragrance. So, which tea garden produces a Da Wu Ye Dancong that comes closer to the authentic flavor? This article takes you to the Shitoujiao Tea Garden in Fenghuang Town, Chaozhou, situated at an altitude of about 900 meters, adjacent to the Fenghuang Reservoir, where clouds and mist linger year-round, and the yellow soil provides ideal growing conditions for the tea trees. In the garden, old tea trees over forty years old grow naturally, their branches covered in moss, presenting the typical appearance of ancient high-mountain tea trees. The article also outlines the origins of Phoenix Dancong, the characteristics of the Da Wu Ye variety, and the story of a Chaozhou tea farmer who returned to his hometown to promote authentic Dancong, along with recommendations for related tea products from the Front Street brand.
The Shitoujiao Tea Garden is located within Fenghuang Town, not far from the Fenghuang Reservoir. The tea garden sits at an elevation of around 900 meters and is shrouded in mist and rain for most of the year, with humid air and exceptional geographical conditions. The soil here is of the yellow earth type, which is highly beneficial for the growth and development of tea trees. Shitoujiao Tea Garden The tea trees in the garden are generally over forty years old, growing naturally without pruning or additional human intervention. Thanks to the superior ecological conditions, the trunks and branches of the tea trees are covered with a thick layer of moss, a distinctive hallmark of ancient high-mountain tea trees. Origin Chaozhou's Phoenix Mountain is famous for its tea. Among the seventy-three Phoenix Mountains, the scenery is beautiful, the air is clean, and the climate is warm and humid, with an average annual temperature of about 20°C and an average annual rainfall of about 2,100 millimeters. This mountainous area is not only a great tourist destination but also the core production region for China's renowned Phoenix Dancong oolong tea. Its unique aroma and flavor are the result of the local climate and soil. In 1982, Dancong was listed as one of China's thirty-two famous teas. The total area of the Phoenix Mountain tea gardens exceeds twenty thousand mu, with over three thousand ancient tea trees aged between 200 and 400 years, and one ancient tree known as the "Song Dynasty Tea King," which is 600 years old.
Tea Farmer Being able to taste this Da Wu Ye Dancong oolong tea is thanks to Mr. Li and the tea he provided. Mr. Li is from Chaozhou, Guangdong, and he recommended several floral-scented Dancong oolong teas. After tasting them, it was found that they differ from the common Guangdong Phoenix Dancong oolong teas on the market: even with a high aroma, it does not mask the taste of the tea itself. On the contrary, the aroma and flavor blend with each other, enhancing each other's finest qualities, making it stand out remarkably among similar teas. During the conversation, it was learned that he was born in a small village in Fenghuang County and was exposed to tea picking, processing, and tasting from a young age, with Dancong tea leaving the deepest impression. After graduating from university, he chose to return to his hometown to develop the tea market, seeking opportunities both for his own family and for his fellow villagers. At the same time, he has always been dedicated to making friends with tea enthusiasts and introducing them to his natural, authentic Dancong oolong tea. Tea Tree Variety Da Wu Ye is a medium-leaf tea tree variety, a natural hybrid selected from the Shuixian Phoenix oolong tea variety. Its leaves are thick and soft, smooth on the surface with fine hairs, and dark green in color. The mature leaves have an average length of about 11.2 centimeters and a width of about 3.8 centimeters, with an elliptical leaf shape. The plant itself belongs to a high-aroma tea variety. History Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, an emperor passed through Phoenix Mountain and, feeling thirsty, ordered his soldiers to pick some tea leaves and boil them for a drink. After drinking, the emperor noticed the tea was of exceptional quality. Thereafter, people began to cultivate this tea tree specifically and called it Song Zhong. By the 1990s, the tea planting area further expanded, and the quality of tea production improved accordingly. Since 1982, Phoenix tea has won numerous awards in various Chinese tea competitions. Dancong tea has long been known as the "King of Teas," and many tea enthusiasts around the world regard it as a treasure.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
