Phoenix Dan Cong (Almond) Oolong Tea - Premium

This was part of my huge Tao Tea Leaf haul at the end of 2015, though I just opened the package a few months ago. Given my love of almonds, I had to add it to my order, even though I remember it being fairly expensive. (It helped that I ordered during a sale.) I steeped 6 g of leaf in a 120 ml teapot at 195F for 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, and 240 seconds.

The first steep has notes of almonds, hay, tobacco, and cream, with a scratchy astringency that reminds me of almond skin. In the second steep, the roast becomes more prominent. The bulk of the sip is almonds and roast, but grapefruit and florals come out in the aftertaste. The almond gets less intense in the next couple steeps and the orchid and jasmine florals and citrus show themselves more clearly. The florals disappear around steep seven, leaving roast, nuts, minerals, and astringency until the end of the session.

To me, this tea lives up to its name, which doesn’t seem to be the case for many other almond Dan Congs. It’s a bit more astringent than I’d like, but that’s possibly my fault. Most reviewers aren’t overly impressed with it, and with my haphazard approach to brewing, I’m surprised that it consistently works out for me. I’ll definitely buy more, if only during a sale.

I’m really sad about this. I over steeped the first two times because I was distracted. I still tried to drink it and it was like lighter fluid. By the third steep it was still pretty bitter, and then once I reached the fourth it was mostly faded. I was not able to enjoy it. The only flavor I could bring out was a subtle sweetness in the aftertaste. I’m pretty bummed, but I guess I’ll have to buy some more.

https://instagram.com/p/2YY5jdTGcM/?taken-by=haveteawilltravel

The dry leaf is long, wirey and dark. It doesn’t have a strong smell, just faint floral and vegetal notes. The steeped leaf smells much the same, but unfurls to pieces of green leaves with a reddish tinge.

The liquor is a clear, bright amber, and smells sweet, nutty and floral. I steeped this according to the package directions, 3g in boiling water, for 2:30.

The taste is sweet and floral, with a hint of bitterness, and a sharpness that I associate with astringency, but the mouth feel is smooth and round. There’s traces of nuttiness, but not as much as I was expecting – I can maybe pick out some almond on the finish, but it’s not distinct enough to name as almond if that’s not what I was expecting.

As it cools though, the flavours improve, become more full mouth, and the promised almond is showing itself more.

I tried a second steep of the leaves in 88C water, but even with quite a long steep, the flavour is rather flat.

This was nice, but not as unique as I was expecting, and from what I recall, quite expensive. I’ll have to try my first cup steeped in cooler water, and maybe try this gongfu style, but right now, I don’t feel like this was very good value for the money.

Today was a grey day with no rain…I much prefer rain.

I went in the woods to get bad vibes out of my system. I saw all kinds of beauty, and it filled my head with positive energy.

Never underestimate the power of nature.

I promised myself I would try some of my new high end dark oolong from Toa Tea Leaf.

Tonight, I chose this “almond” Phoenix Dancong. Another miracle of nature.

How does a tea get so naturally floral and nutty is beyond comprehension.

I would say this has pretty much the same profile as honey orchid oolong, except it is not as sweet, and more nutty. Roasted nuts, with an orchid opening and a light astringent finish.

This type of oolong has to be brewed with very short steeps, otherwise, it turns bitter.

The wet leaf smells like a luxuriant garden of lilac and orchids. That fragrance is just intoxicating.

Needless to say, I love it. Is it for every one? Maybe not. First, it is quite expensive and I’m not sure this flavour profile would suit you if you’ve never really experiment with oolongs. I would try with something more “friendly” like Tie Guan Yin first.

All in all, a very good tea that I’m enjoying a lot tonight.

Pic for those who are interested:

http://instagram.com/p/rn-mXdQh5J/