Description

This Dancong oolong set offers a unique opportunity to compare the effect of various roast levels applied to the same tea, highlighting different qualities at each level.

The base material for these teas comes from a high-altitude garden (800-1000m) in the Phoenix Mountain range, and comes with organic certifications by EU, US, Chinese and Japanese certifying bodies. Made from 70+ year old trees with deep roots, these teas have the benefit of coming from unique terroir that is rich in volcanic soil and grown in a biodiverse environment, as opposed to a mono-culture plantation.

While each tea maintains ties to its Milanxiang roots, as well as a mineral character due to the terroir, the effect of each roasting level is pronounced.

Light: Floral notes are the dominant quality in this tea, with a honey sweetness coming through too. While it displays typical Milanxiang qualities, this tea is more refined and elegant than the darker roasts. Soft, but strong, this tea is made from higher grade (bud heavy) Xuepian. It also offers a pleasant cooling sensation in the throat, as well as a lasting fragrance.

Medium: This tea delivers a more standard Milanxiang experience. There is much more emphasis on the honey notes up front, but without sacrificing floral notes. This tea employs a more standard 1 bud, 2-3 leaves picking grade, and is nicely balanced. While the other two teas in this set are more of an adventure, this tea feels like home, in a good way.

Dark: With a slightly larger grade picking of 1 bud, 3-4 leaves, this tea is markedly different than the others. Having undergone multiple roastings, the flavour is more developed, fusing the honey notes with a stronger mineral quality. There is a more noticeable Yanyun quality with this tea, which along with the heavier roast makes it more akin to a Yancha tea. With less emphasis on the subtleties in the front, this tea offers pleasant notes on the back end, lingering on the sides of the tongue.

$0.60-0.69/gram

Varietal: Milanxiang/蜜兰香/Honey Orchid Fragrance
Region: Shuangjiniang Shan, Guangdong
Altitude: 800-1000m