Ba Xian 八仙 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong
Location: Ya Hou Village (垭后村), Phoenix Mountain, Guangdong, China
Altitude: About 1200 m
Harvest Date: April 25, 2025
Cultivar: Ba Xian 八仙
Age of Tea Bushes: Around 60 years
Roasting Level: Medium charcoal roast, completed in three stages on July 15, September 20, and December 28
The Story of This Tea
We selected this Ba Xian from Ya Hou Village on Phoenix Mountain, an area known among local growers for its altitude and distinctive volcanic ash soil. The bushes are around sixty years old, with deep and well-established root systems. The soil here is highly permeable, allowing excellent circulation of water and nutrients, which supports strong internal structure rather than superficial fragrance.
Ba Xian is one of the newest and most popular cultivars in the Phoenix Dan Cong world. It is usually harvested in late April or early May. In recent years, its popularity has grown so quickly that during the Ba Xian harvest season, the roads into well-known villages on Phoenix Mountain become heavily congested. Tea merchants and tea lovers from across the country crowd into these areas, and anyone who has visited during spring harvest will remember the intense traffic and atmosphere.
Unlike some Dan Cong cultivars that impress immediately with bold and obvious aroma, Ba Xian is valued for its internal quality. Its strength lies in depth, balance, and endurance. We roasted this tea patiently, returning it to the charcoal fire three times across the year to stabilise the leaf, build thickness, and allow the flavour to settle into a calm and composed profile.
Aroma and Flavour
The aroma is refined and floral rather than loud, with gentle warmth from the roast supporting the natural mountain character. On the palate, the tea is thick and smooth, unfolding gradually across infusions with balanced sweetness and a clear mineral backbone. The flavour develops steadily rather than all at once, rewarding slower and more attentive brewing.
- Aroma: Soft florals with gentle warmth and clean roasted notes
- Flavor: Balanced floral sweetness, subtle fruit tones, and deep mineral structure
- Texture: Thick, smooth, and coating, with a rounded mouthfeel
- Aftertaste: Long-lasting huí gān with calm throat resonance
- Steeping Endurance: 8 to 10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Zhuni 朱泥 or Hongni 红泥 teapot to enhance body and warmth, or a porcelain gaiwan for clarity
- Ratio: 6 to 7 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95 to 100°C, ideally low-TDS spring water
- Infusions: Brief rinse, then 6 to 8 seconds for the first infusion, increasing gradually with later steeps
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95°C
- Steeping: 2.5 to 3 minutes for the first infusion, with one or two gentle re-steeps
Why Choose This Tea
This Ba Xian Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong expresses what we value most in authentic Phoenix Mountain tea: mature bushes, high altitude, mineral-rich soil, and careful charcoal roasting. It is ideal for drinkers who appreciate thickness, balance, and lasting sweetness rather than exaggerated aroma, offering a clear and honest expression of Ba Xian from Ya Hou Village.