Dong Ding Traditional A

A traditional style of Dong Ding Oolong grown on Dong Ding mountain by our friends the Su family. They have been making this rich, hearty oolong with a dedication and adherence to traditional standards for generations. We are grateful for the tea and the wisdom of Mr. and Mrs. Su, as they have been a guiding presence in our life as well as our tea practice since 2008.

Traditional Dong Ding is withered in the sun, oxidized about 30% and given a medium roast to bring out its full aroma, grippy mouthfeel and throat warming aftertaste. We like this tea, not because it is bodacious like High Mountain Oolong or elegant like Oriental Beauty, but because it is solid, grounded and powerful. We call this the 'hero' tea of Taiwan.

This is a special batch that was aged for roughly two years before we did a gentle re-roast here in Seattle recently to re-invigorate the tea. During the aging process it developed an incredibly unique melon-like sweet aroma, so we've nicknamed this batch "Melon Fragrance Dong Ding". Other than the unique aroma, it has all the hallmarks of a good Traditional Dong Ding : expansive full mouthfeel, throaty aftertaste and a generous bitterness that resolves into a full bodied sweetness. We think this is an awesome batch!

Facts

• Harvest Location : Dong Ding, Nantou, Taiwan
• Roast Date : 2024 April
• Cultivar : Soft Stem [Ruan Zhi Zhong]
• Farming : Unsprayed

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