2025 Dong Ding Oolong Tea - Light Charcoal Roast

What's so special about this tea?

A nostalgic look back at the classic Dong Ding Oolong of the 1970s, also known as the Qingshui Yeuxiang style. Crafted by a family of pioneering producers in the Lugu region, who have passed down this tradition through generations. This style is distinguished by its medium oxidation and light toasting with longan charcoal. The result is a straw-yellow liquor with delicate floral and fruity notes and a long, sweet finish. It's a flavor profile that is increasingly rare these days.

Traditional charcoal roasting has become rare, as many producers opt for electric methods for efficiency and consistency. This family, however, continues to respect the old technique, preserving the authentic flavor of the original Dong Ding.

The tea was hand-picked in May 2025 in a garden in Fenghuang, Lugu, Nantou, at 750 meters above sea level. The leaves, of the Qing Xin cultivar, were carefully selected from bud to third leaf, following the tradition of this region of Taiwan, renowned for its excellent tea.

The liqueur is smooth, creamy, and enveloping on the palate. It presents herbal and floral aromas with hints of poached pear and melon. The damp leaves, before infusion, release an irresistible aroma of shortbread. On the palate, floral notes, cream, peach, and grapes emerge, balanced with a delicately toasted background, finishing with a long, sweet aftertaste that soothes the throat.

It deserves to be enjoyed in a gaiwan or clay teapot to perceive every nuance of the infusion.