Charcoal Dong Ding

A traditional Dong Ding oolong finished over charcoal roasting pit by our tea teacher in Taiwan, Master Zhan.

A element that gets misunderstood about this tea — particularly, I think, because of the name — is its softness. Tea that comes out of our teacher’s roasting basket can run the gambit from muscular and weighty to quiet and delicate, but there is an element of softness that runs through all of his teas and this Charcoal Dong Ding is no exception.

It presents a rich and robust aroma, and the broth is exquisitely thick and round in the mouth. But it is actually its softness that gives the tea its ability to penetrate deep into the tissues and relax the body.

So, what makes it ‘Charcoal’ Dong Ding? It’s not that it tastes like charcoal, but, because it was roasted over an expertly controlled traditional charcoal pit, it has the ability to gently penetrate like the radiant heat from a charcoal fire.

Facts

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