Dong Ding Traditional A

Story

Our long time friends Mr. and Mrs. Su are very specific about their tea. They have maintained a traditional tea making style over the years because they believe in the tea of their ancestors.

The bushes that this tea is harvested from are essentially left to grow wild. They are old, with lichen and moss growing on the thick trunks of these shrubs. By not interfering with the natural process, the bushes that survive become strong and resilient. Tea harvested from these bushes has a depth of character that isn't possible with large production tea. It makes us happy!

This tea is "Traditional" in the sense that it was processed the way Dong Ding has been processed for decades. It has a deeper, more full feeling broth than many modern oolongs (high mountain or baozhong for exmample) because it has gone through a longer "lang qing" process to evenly distribute natural enzymes throughout the leaf. It's also withered in natural sunlight -- never in big air conditioned facilities of bigger tea factories -- which affords the tea a very clean, natural profile.

The focus of this tea is the broth, which is juicy and thick. Sensation from the broth can be felt in the throat, which develops into a long, sweet aftertaste.

This is a soulful oolong. It can be pleasant grandpa style, and it can be stretched for more meditative sessions. If you are interested in learning more deeply about tea, and anything about this description seems novel to you, please try it for yourself. This tea is a great teacher. Alternatively, if you like a good tasting, strong, clean oolong tea that grand-daddy would be happy to sip, you, too, should do yourself a favor and try this tea.

Description

First infusion reveals a fruit forward aroma, and subsequent infusions bring out more woodiness and rich broth.

Tacky, grippy texture gives the broth weight and leaves a long lasting impression. Lively on the tongue and palate, with a warm throaty aftertaste. Melting into the body, this tea provides a potent buzz.

Note : Newly roasted version is still on the fire-y side, but will subside in the next few weeks. A couple bags of the November roast are still available.

Facts

• Harvest Location : Dong Ding, Nantou, Taiwan
• Harvest Date : 2022 May
• Roast Date : 2023 May
• Cultivar : Soft Stem [Ruan Zhi Zhong]
• Farming : Unsprayed

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