Dong Fang Hong 东方红 (2025)

Tea Profile

Type: Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong (单丛乌龙)
Location: Wudong Mountain 乌岽山, Fenghuang, Chaozhou, Guangdong
Altitude: High mountain origin
Harvest Date: 2025 Spring
Cultivar: Dong Fang Hong 东方红 (Huang Zhi Xiang Fragrance Type 黄枝香型)
Age of Tea Bushes: From a mother bush over 700 years old (late Southern Song Dynasty)
Roasting Level: Traditional medium roast

The Story of This Tea

Dong Fang Hong, meaning The East is Red, is one of the most prestigious cultivars in the Phoenix Dan Cong family. Its legendary mother bush, also called the No. 1 Song Variety, was planted during the late Southern Song Dynasty and is now more than 700 years old. Classified under the Huang Zhi Xiang (Yellow Twig) fragrance type, this tea embodies the depth and refinement of old-bush Dan Cong.

The cultivar is known by several local names: Song Tea (宋茶), Spirit on the Rock (岩上珍), Unity Tree (团树叶), and Chairman’s Tea (主席茶). The most famous story tells that in 1955, tea master Wen Yongji crafted just 2 kilograms of Song Tea and gifted it to Chairman Mao. In his honor, the tea became known as Dong Fang Hong. While legends differ, the tea’s status as a symbol of heritage and prestige is undisputed in Chaozhou and beyond.

(Also sometimes referred to as “Dancong Oolong” in English.)

Aroma and Flavour

• Aroma: Deep, elegant, and restrained with refined floral-woody undertones

• Flavour: Mellow, thick, and smooth with richness that slowly unfolds across the palate

• Aftertaste: Lasting throat note with pronounced salivation and lingering sweetness

• Texture: Rounded, full-bodied, and satisfying with exceptional balance

• Liquor: Bright orange, translucent, and clean

• Leaf Bottom: Well-preserved, vibrant, with characteristic red edges

Brewing Guidelines

Gong Fu Style

• Teaware: Chaozhou zhuni pot (朱泥壶) or porcelain gaiwan

• Ratio: 7–8g per 100ml water

• Water: 95–100°C spring water

• Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 8–10 times, lengthening steeps gradually

Western Style

• Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot

• Ratio: 3–4g per 250ml water

• Water: 95°C

• Steeping: 2–3 minutes first infusion, resteep 2–3 times

Why Choose This Tea

• Historic origin: From a mother bush over 700 years old on Wudong Mountain

• Huang Zhi Xiang type: A signature fragrance category of Phoenix Dan Cong

• Prestigious reputation: Known locally as “Chairman’s Tea” for its storied past

• Complex character: Deep, mellow, and refined with lasting sweetness and aroma

• High mountain charm: Reflects the elegance and endurance of old-bush Dan Cong

Dong Fang Hong is a tea of legend and legacy, carrying centuries of Chaozhou tea culture in every cup. It is a refined and highly collectible Phoenix Dan Cong for serious oolong enthusiasts.