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Dan Cong Oolong is, perhaps, our best tea. It is handcrafted from the leaves of the famous Dan Cong tea bushes of Phoenix Mountain in Guangdong, China, and then well oxidized and roasted for a remarkably rich, nuanced aroma and flavor. Its dark, wiry leaves are highly aromatic. Open a package and you’ll immediately smell apricots, peaches and bittersweet cocoa powder. The clear, pale-golden brew has lively aromas of apricots, nectarine, firewood, dark chocolate, and toasted walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Its flavor is fantastically sweet and complex, with notes of fruit (apricot, peach, white grape, nectarine), honey, wood and minerals. The aftertaste is phenomenally full, and it changes with each re-infusion of Dan Cong Oolong. Brewed gong fu style, later infusions reveal a drier (yet still fruity) flavor profile with engaging, sophisticated mineral and woodsy notes. Chilled, Dan Cong Oolong is deliciously clean and fruity – a wonderful calorie-free alternative to fruit nectar. Pair this decadent tea with rich foods, like a fresh fruit and smoked bleu cheese platter, a dark chocolate torte or hazelnut French macaroons.
Received a CONDITIONAL 85 on WTR. This dan cong has been infused with natural osmanthus flower. It is not an osmanthus oolong varietal with inherent osmanthus notes.
The difference between the 2 is like an actual rose and a flower that has been scented with rose oil.
This is not a negative reflection on thePuritea company as a whole. Their updated product description for their dan cong provides clarification.
The smell of these dry leaves is truly amazing. I make almost everyone who comes into my apartment smell them. It carries through to the brewed tea, which I can smell the moment I start pouring it out of my teapot!
I definitely get peach and apricot right away with this tea. I think I taste the nutty/cocoa taste the description mentions as it cools down, but I’m not sure. Mostly it’s just the fruit, which is lovely, but not as complex as I expected. I think I’m going to blame my water, though, because even run through a Brita filter it has a strong taste that tends to mess with my tea.
The leaves do have a distinct aroma. Abundantly apricot, and subtle cocoa. The dark gold brew aroma is reduced, more of a roasted apricot. Flavour is woody and sweet. As it cools, woody taste dominates, and astringency increases.
4.4 g tea (1/2 of sample order size)
12 oz water
The aroma from opening this tea immediately smelled rich. It steeped to a dark golden yellow. This tea flavor wise does not seem to pack a punch. It is complex. There seem to be some woodsy elements. I can sense the nectarine in the description a bit. There is a slight astringency on the tongue that i felt tighten. Then It carries a pleasant aftertaste for a bit.
After a few drinks, i’ve paired with a blueberry scone (wegmans) and it has paired nicely. The scone has completely cut out that bit of astringency. Overall this was a pretty good cup.
This is my first Dan Cong, so I do not have anything to compare it to.
When opening the package I was blown away by the aroma. I was worried that it might be too overwhelming in tea form, but it was very nice. I can see why so many people are drawn to this tea. I would recommend this one to any oolong lover.
