Song Zhong 宋种 (2025)
Tea Profile
Type: Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong (单丛乌龙)
Location: Lizaiping Village (李子坪), Phoenix Mountain, Chaozhou, Guangdong
Altitude: Around 1150 m
Harvest Date: April 25, 2025
Cultivar: Song Zhong 宋种
Age of Tea Bushes: Around 80 years
Roasting Level: Medium roast
The Story of This Tea
Song Zhong is one of the most respected cultivars in the Phoenix Dan Cong lineage, directly descended from the historic Song Zhong No. 1 mother tree. Through generations of careful propagation, this heritage has been preserved, allowing the tea to retain its distinctive fragrance and elegant balance.
This batch was harvested in Lizaiping Village, a high-altitude enclave of Phoenix Mountain known for its clarity of flavour and refined aromatic character. At around 1150 meters, the cool air and mineral-rich soils slow the growth of the tea bushes, enhancing the complexity of the liquor and developing the refined “mountain yun”. The subtle vitality and lingering clarity prized in the best Dan Cong oolongs.
Aroma and Flavour
This Song Zhong opens with an elegant floral fragrance laced with gentle citrus tones reminiscent of fresh pomelo. The taste is light, pure, and naturally sweet, showing exceptional clarity and a clean, mineral freshness. The liquor is bright yellow and luminous, carrying an aromatic lift from the cup lid, while the texture remains soft and silky throughout multiple infusions.
- Aroma: Elegant floral fragrance with fresh pomelo and citrus brightness
- Flavor: Light, refreshing, and naturally sweet with delicate balance
- Texture: Soft, smooth, and pure on the palate
- Aftertaste: Lingering sweetness and clear throat feel with continuous mountain yun
- Liquor: Bright yellow and clear with rising floral notes
- Steeping Endurance: 7 to 9 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 7–9 infusions, gradually lengthening steep times
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: 95 °C
- Steeping: 2–3 minutes for the first infusion, resteep 2–3 times
Why Choose This Tea
This 2025 Song Zhong Phoenix Dan Cong from Lizaiping Village embodies the harmony of heritage and high-mountain refinement. A direct descendant of the famed Song Zhong No. 1 mother tree, it offers a graceful floral fragrance, layered sweetness, and the crisp energy of its 1150-meter terroir. The medium roast enhances its balance and depth, revealing a clean, refreshing cup that lingers with the calm and clarity characteristic of fine Dan Cong oolongs.