Lei Kou Chai 雷扣柴 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong
Location: Li Zi Ping (李子坪), Phoenix Mountain, Chaozhou, Guangdong
Altitude: About 800 m
Harvest Date: Spring 2025
Cultivar: Lei Kou Chai (雷扣柴)
Age of Tea Bushes: About 40 years
Roasting Level: Twice charcoal roasted (medium)
The Story of This Tea
High in the mists of Phoenix Mountain, the legend of Lei Kou Chai was born. Long ago, a fierce storm split the sky, and lightning struck a venerable tea tree on the slopes of Li Zi Ping. Though the mother tree gradually withered, her spirit lived on. Before she died, farmers took asexual cuttings to preserve her lineage. From that act of devotion came this unique cultivar, its name meaning “lightning-struck lumber.” Each harvest, when I walk through the garden, I think of how this tea carries both thunder’s strength and nature’s mercy. Its fragrance feels alive. A balance of power and tenderness that defines the best Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong.
Aroma and Flavour
Lei Kou Chai opens with a delicate milk fragrance entwined with floral sweetness, evolving into a candy-like aroma that lingers long after the cup is empty. The amber-orange liquor is smooth and refreshing, with a silky sweetness that fills the mouth and leaves the lips scented. A truly captivating tea for those who love gentle complexity and enduring aroma.
- Aroma: Milky sweetness, orchid, light caramel, soft fruit candy
- Flavor: Sweet and floral with creamy undertones, balanced by gentle minerality
- Texture: Smooth and medium-bodied with a silky finish
- Aftertaste: Lingering sweetness and fragrance on the lips and breath
- Steeping Endurance: 8–10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Chaozhou red clay teapot to enhance fragrance, or porcelain gaiwan for clarity
- Ratio: 6–8 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C, ideally soft spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse, then 3–5 seconds for the first infusions; gradually lengthen with each round
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot; a small Zisha pot gives added smoothness
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95 °C
- Steeping: 2½–3 minutes first infusion, then resteep for 4–5 minutes, adjusting to taste
Why Choose This Tea
Our Lei Kou Chai from Li Zi Ping combines the power of a legend with the grace of Phoenix Mountain terroir. This lightning-born cultivar is renowned for its milky-floral fragrance and long, sweet aftertaste. Crafted with two careful charcoal roasts, it represents the essence of authentic Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong. Vibrant, refined, and unforgettable. For tea drinkers seeking a story in every cup, this tea is truly one of a kind.