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: Spring 2025
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 revered cultivars within the Phoenix Dan Cong family. Its legendary mother bush, known as the No. 1 Song Variety, was planted during the late Southern Song Dynasty and now stands as a living monument over 700 years old. Classified under the Huang Zhi Xiang (Yellow Twig) fragrance type, it represents the pinnacle of refinement and heritage in Dan Cong production.
Locally, the cultivar has been known by many names. Song Tea (宋茶), Spirit on the Rock (岩上珍), Unity Tree (团树叶), and Chairman’s Tea (主席茶). In 1955, tea master Wen Yongji crafted just two kilograms of Song Tea, presenting it as a gift to Chairman Mao. To commemorate that moment, the tea became known as Dong Fang Hong. Though versions of the story vary, the tea’s reputation for rarity, craftsmanship, and prestige remains unchallenged.
Aroma and Flavour
Dong Fang Hong embodies the maturity and depth of ancient-bush Dan Cong. The aroma is layered and elegant, blending floral and woody tones with a sense of quiet strength. The flavour is mellow and full, gradually unfolding across the palate with warmth and richness. A long, resonant aftertaste leaves a cooling sweetness that lingers at the back of the throat. Its liquor glows a clean orange hue, and the leaf base shows the signature red edges of classic Phoenix Mountain craftsmanship.
- Aroma: Deep, elegant, and refined with floral-woody undertones
- Flavor: Mellow, thick, and smooth, gradually unfolding with each sip
- Texture: Rounded, full-bodied, and balanced
- Aftertaste: Persistent throat note with lingering sweetness and salivation
- Liquor: Bright orange and clear
- Leaf Bottom: Well-preserved, vibrant, with characteristic red-edged leaves
- Steeping Endurance: 8 to 10 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Chaozhou Zhuni 朱泥 teapot or porcelain gaiwan
- Ratio: 7–8 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C spring water
- Infusions: Rinse once, then brew 8–10 infusions, extending time gradually
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: About 95 °C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion, resteep 2–3 times
Why Choose This Tea
This Dong Fang Hong Phoenix Dan Cong from Wudong Mountain stands as a masterpiece of Chaozhou tea heritage. Descended from a 700-year-old mother bush, it represents the Huang Zhi Xiang fragrance type at its most refined. Deep, balanced, and resonant. Its legendary connection to history, coupled with its enduring floral sweetness and smooth, full body, makes it a tea of both cultural significance and sensory beauty. A true treasure for lovers of old-bush Dan Cong oolongs.
