The Living Spirit of Tea — Phoenix Dancong
Good mountains bring forth good waters, and good waters nurture fine tea.
In the rolling ridges of Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, Guangdong, the landscape unfolds like a painting. Mists linger year-round, and clear springs trickle over stones. The red soil is rich, the climate warm yet gentle, with distinct contrasts between day and night. It is as though this land was born for tea, giving rise to the one and only Phoenix Dancong.
The history of Phoenix Dancong stretches far back in time. Legend has it that during the Southern Song Dynasty, as the emperor journeyed south and passed through Chaozhou, he tasted the mountain’s tea and was captivated by its fresh, lingering floral fragrance. From then on, the fame of Phoenix Mountain tea began to spread. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, tea artisans in Phoenix Town had inherited the tradition of “single-tree, single-picking.” Each ancient tree was tended with care, for every one bore its own distinctive aroma and spirit. Thus came the name Dancong — “single bush.”
The wonder of Phoenix Dancong lies in its “hundred fragrances in one.” A mountain, a tree; a tree, a fragrance.
Honey Orchid (Mi Lan Xiang) is mellow as honey, soothing to the heart;
Huang Zhi Xiang carries the freshness of summer blossoms, bright and uplifting;
Zhi Lan Xiang is refined and elegant, its charm lingering long;
Almond Aroma offers a nutty richness entwined with the wild purity of the mountains.
Walking through Phoenix Mountain is like wandering in a world of blossoms and fruits, where every cup of tea whispers the secrets of nature.
The craft of tea-making itself is a moving poem. At dawn, fresh leaves are gently spread beneath sunlight and mountain breezes. As the leaves cool and rest, they seem to breathe. During the shaking process, skilled hands tenderly turn the leaves, their edges blushing red while their centers remain emerald, like jade edged in ruby. Then comes firing to fix the fragrance, rolling to shape the leaves, and slow roasting over a gentle flame — each step awakening the tea’s hidden soul. Within every motion lies the patience and wisdom of the tea farmers.
When hot water pours into the gaiwan, fragrance unfurls like rising mist. The golden, translucent liquor shines like the mountain’s morning sun. Floral and fruity notes layer upon one another, filling the air. A single sip reveals a rich, sweet smoothness, the aroma lingering on tongue and throat. It carries the freshness of green tea, the mellowness of black tea, and with each steeping, it shifts, offering new surprises with every cup.
In the lives of the Chaozhou people, Phoenix Dancong is more than tea — it is culture, emotion, and connection. On the Gongfu tea table, it is a token of hospitality, a witness to friendship, and a verse of everyday poetry. A few close friends gather by the stove, listening to the gentle bubbling of water, surrounded by curling tea fragrance. Time slows, leaving only tea and heart in quiet conversation.
Phoenix Dancong is nature’s gift and time’s offering. It carries the spirit of mountains, the charm of ancient trees, and the craftsmanship of devoted hands. Within a single cup lies the drifting of clouds, the grace of blossoms, and the tenderness of years gone by. Every sip is a meeting with nature, a dialogue of serenity with the soul.
