The essence of fine tea lies in letting the water carry the memories of the mountains and valleys where each leaf has grown, allowing your lips and tongue to interpret the terroir, and letting the tea aroma annotate the passage of time. I am Jon from Tongxin She Teahouse, a humble tea enthusiast on the journey of seeking exceptional teas, and I am delighted to share my favorite tea with all of you.
This time, we are thrilled to introduce our 2025 new arrival—a rare treasure: the 300-year-old ancient tree Honey-Floral Oolong from Da'an Village, Fenghuang Mountain in Chaozhou. As one of the ten precious nectar-floral varieties of Fenghuang Dancong, Honey-Floral Oolong is widely acclaimed as the "perfume of teas" in the oolong tea realm. And this ancient tea tree, which has stood through three centuries of wind and frost, endows this sweet fragrance with the profound richness of time.
Da'an Village is hailed as a "living fossil of Chaozhou tea culture". Nestled in mountainous terrain 700-1200 meters above sea level, it is shrouded in mist all year round. The soil, formed by the weathering of volcanic rocks, is rich in minerals such as zinc and selenium. With an annual air humidity of over 80%, the ancient tea trees grow slowly, accumulating abundant internal nutrients. The 300-year-old tree boasts deeply rooted systems that absorb nutrients from the deep soil, producing thick, tough leaves with a unique woody and mossy aroma— a natural gift that young tea trees can never replicate. As recorded by Professor Huang Baizi in Chinese Fenghuang Tea, Baiye Dancong is named Honey-Floral Oolong for its distinctive honey and floral notes in the brewed tea. The "honey" flavor of this ancient tree tea is exceptionally pure, and its floral aroma is particularly lingering and distant.
"Honey" symbolizes the simple life aspirations of the Chaoshan people, while "floral" embodies the delicate beauty of nature. Together, they create a harmonious blend of earthly warmth and mountain tranquility. The Honey-Floral Oolong from this ancient tree is the perfect interpretation of this symphony. Naturally rich in linalool, geraniol, and other aromatic compounds, the tea combines the mellow sweetness of wild honey with the elegant fragrance of various flowers. Sipping it is like wandering in a mountain orchard filled with blooming flowers—your nose is greeted by the enchanting floral scent, and your throat is caressed by a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
Exceptional tea is not defined by aroma alone, but by the perfect integration of aroma and taste. To fully unlock the unique characteristics of this ancient tree tea, we adhere to the traditional Fenghuang Dancong tea-making process and carry out three precise roasting steps: the first high-temperature roasting locks in the fresh and brisk original flavor; the second low-temperature roasting mellowizes the tea, softening the tea polyphenols to reduce astringency; the final slow roasting over gentle fire achieves a deep fusion of aroma and tea liquor. The roasting temperature is perfectly controlled— the tea absorbs the fire's essence without showing any burnt notes, and the fire penetrates the leaves thoroughly without leaving a harsh aftertaste. After six months of aging, the fire's intensity subsides, the aroma becomes more calm and restrained, and the tea liquor turns out to be exceptionally smooth and mellow.
Upon brewing with boiling water poured at a high altitude, the orange-yellow, bright tea liquor fills the cup, and the distinctive mountain charm is released instantly. The dry tea leaves are tightly rolled and glossy; the infused leaves are thick, plump, uniform, and elastic—testaments to both the quality of the ancient tree tea and the exquisite craftsmanship. Take a gentle sip, and you will find the aroma is fully integrated into the liquor rather than floating on the surface. The honeyed sweetness and floral fragrance spread across your mouth and nose, leaving a taste that is richer than mere sweetness and smoother than simple mellowness on your lips and tongue. As the roasted notes gradually fade away, the woody aroma of the old tree and the mineral essence of the soil slowly emerge, followed by a continuous flow of sweet aftertaste and salivation. This is exactly the ultimate tea-drinking experience that tea lovers describe as "a taste that reveals the tea master's craftsmanship and the unique charm of Dancong tea".
Nurtured by 300 years of wind and rain, aged for six months, and refined through three rounds of charcoal roasting, this cup of ancient tree Honey-Floral Oolong is a gift from nature and a masterpiece of human ingenuity. At Tongxin She Teahouse, we hope that through this cup of tea, you can taste the terroir of Fenghuang Mountain, touch the history of three centuries, and savor the integrity and tenderness of the Chaoshan people.