Fenghuang Dan Cong
Mi Lan Xiang
Honey Orchid Fragrance
2010 Late Spring

• Wu Dong Mountain, Chao Zhou county (Phoenix Mountains)

• Guangdong Province, China

• 80% Oxidation

• Charcoal-fired in the traditional manner

• Large, elegant, single, open, slightly-twisted flat leaf

• Smooth body with just enough charcoal-flavor to impart a pleasant, slight dryness

• A delicate but persistent aftertaste of wood and honey

• Complex floral aroma, underscored with lychee and osmanthus

• Multiple infusions

• Golden orange-amber liquor

• 1 year rested

This tea is from old tea trees ( single-trunk trees ) and is named for its individual 'fragrance'. The 'fragrance' identifies the specific cultivar of old tea tree ( or in some cases young tea bush ) that the leaf was plucked from.

This Mi Lan Xiang dan cong is simply superb. For us, this tea has the perfect combination of sweet, non-stop floral and charcoal dryness that we expect in a first-rate dan cong. One can get drunk on the aroma alone.

This dan cong is slightly more masculine in overall style than Huang Zi Xiang which is a bit more feminine. This is due to a little more roasting in the final leaf firing but only enough to underscore the august flavor that Mi Lan Xiang dan congs are known for without diminishing the inherent lovely sweetness of the tea.

When we drink dan cong, we look for a sustained lingering aftertaste: this tea has it. Often this just does not happen if the tea is not well-made and over-roasted.

This batch of Mi Lan Xiang has been expertly prepared, and the aftertaste resonates on the palate. And the depth of flavor and aroma is remarkable from a young dan cong made in 2010. We expect that this leaf will age very well.

Western-style steeping: (Medium to large sized teapot: 20-32 oz)
Use 1.25 Tablespoons (2-3 grams) of tea per each 6oz water
Steep 1-3 infusions at 2-3 minutes each.
Water temperature should be 195˚ - 205˚ F

Asian-style steeping: (small teapots under 10 oz or a gaiwan)
Use 2.5 Tablespoons (5-6 grams) of tea per each 6oz water
Steep upwards of 6-8 infusions (or more!) at 10 seconds to 1 minute each
Water temperature should be 195˚ - 205˚ F