Phoenix Dancong Mi Lan Xiang “Honey & Orchids Aroma”

Origin: Wudong Shan, Guangdong, China
Cultivar: Mi Lan Xiang 蜜兰香 “Honey & Orchids Aroma”
Harvest: March 2020
Elevation: 1000-1200m

Phoenix Dancong is a special style of oolong tea produced in Fenghuang “Phoenix” Mountain, a coastal region celebrated for its mineral-rich soils, foggy climate and rocky landscape. The region is home to diverse cultivars developed through generations of selective cultivation. Many are named after a xiang or “aroma” type. It is said these tea trees mimic the aromas of various flowers and fruits, like Tuberose, Honey & Orchids, or Almond while others are named from farmer tales. Mi Lan Xiang, or “Honey & Orchids Aroma” is a popular cultivar that is beloved for its luscious floral aroma and sappy sweetness that evokes ripe peaches drizzled in honey. This cultivar tends to showcase those aromas upfront even from the initial tea rinse and first infusion, whereas other cultivars may need a little patience to bloom. The final roast and superb caramelized release of this 2020 selection shows notes of nectarine, frangipani, citrussy aroma orchid and wildflower honey. This tea is really fruity and floral.