What can a coffee variety tree teach about Dancong cultivars?
Yelai Xiang Dancong is one of the most recognizable aroma types in Phoenix Dancong, named because the finished tea smells like the night-blooming Telosma cordata flower. This batch was picked in April 2020 from a 150-year-old tree at roughly 1,000 meters on Wudong Mountain and handmade by Master Lin from single-tree material.
A single tea tree yields limited leaf, so most dancong blends fresh leaves from several trees of the same variety. Master Lin instead uses the harvest of one ancient tree, keeping the aroma unique. The medium-roast tea shows a roasted peach note, molasses sweetness and a tightening astringency, a typical balance for roasted dancong.
Ye Lai Xiang Dancong is one of the most recognizable aroma types in Phoenix Dancong, named because the finished tea's aroma resembles the night-blooming jasmine flower. This article unfolds from several dimensions—varietal classification, origin environment, production background, and flavor expression—to introduce this oolong tea produced on Wudong Mountain in Chaozhou, handmade by Master Lin from single-tree ancient raw material. The article not only outlines the aroma characteristics of Ye Lai Xiang Dancong, but also covers Wudong Mountain's altitude and ecological conditions, as well as Master Lin's tea-making journey from self-taught beginnings to award-winning recognition. For coffee enthusiasts and tea lovers who wish to gain a deeper understanding of Phoenix Dancong's aroma system and the allure of ancient single trees, this is a piece with both informational value and tasting reference value. Front Street Coffee also continues to follow such beverages with a strong expression of regional terroir.
This is a Phoenix oolong handmade from fresh leaves of Ye Lai Xiang trees on Wudong Mountain. Wudong Mountain is the most renowned peak of Phoenix Mountain, and we translate its name directly as "Ye Lai Xiang." It refers precisely to the edible yellow flowers of the night-blooming Telosma cordata, sometimes also called "night lavender" or "night orchid." This batch of tea was picked in April 2020 from a 150-year-old tree at an altitude of 1,000 meters.
Phoenix oolong is often called dancong, famous for its ability to mimic various striking aromas found in nature. Because a single tea tree has limited yield, most dancong is made by blending fresh leaves from multiple trees of the same variety. However, all the tea Master Lin makes comes from the harvest of a single ancient tree, so the flavor and aroma are unique.
This is a medium-roast dancong with small, tightly rolled leaves. The first thing you notice is a roasted peach-like aroma, with a molasses sweetness on the palate, alongside an astringency that tightens the mouth. It demonstrates a good sense of balance and is a typical example of a roasted dancong.
This tea is available in limited quantity.
Origin
Wudong Mountain (1,150 meters above sea level), Guangdong Province, China
The mountain roads of Wudong Mountain resemble the crazily steep climbing sections of the Tour de France, with endless curves winding upward until the summit disappears into the mist. For those who come on pilgrimage, seeing some of the oldest tea trees outside Yunnan is an inspiration. Some are majestic, some are gnarled and wind-bent, some were planted by local villagers, and some grow in patches like small orchards. Master Lin is a self-taught tea maker who works with many iconic ancient trees. Although he does not own the land himself, he prefers to rent an ancient tree and process the fresh leaves by hand.
Master Lin's family does not come from a tea-making background, which makes his success and passion all the more remarkable. He has been making tea for more than thirty years and has deliberately traveled all over Phoenix Mountain, learning from the terrain and from other tea masters. Once he gained confidence in his tea-making skills, he began entering tea competitions in 2002, competing both as a tea maker and as a nationally certified first-level tea taster, winning many awards along the way, including the top gold award for dancong at the 2007 Guangzhou International Tea Expo. Master Lin attributes his competition results to thorough preparation and an open-minded willingness to learn from fellow tea makers.
Within the aroma spectrum of Phoenix Dancong, Ye Lai Xiang belongs to a highly recognizable category among the floral aroma types. Its aroma is not a single linear note, but rather shows layered changes across multiple infusions. When recommending Phoenix Dancong, Front Street Coffee also often emphasizes the mountain charm and returning sweetness brought by high-altitude ancient-tree raw material from Wudong Mountain.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
