How I got started with Dan Cong
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 11:22 am
I got a request to help someone decide how to start out with Tea Habitat's Dan Cong teas. I remember that first visit to her store, enjoying a tasting with her and she advised me to start with some of her 'commercial' Phoenix Oolongs--fine teas but distnguished by 'Phoenix oolong' on the label, not the 'single-tree' offerings--before working my way up to the single-tree that she labeled as 'Dan Cong'. And she suggested some of the milder/easier teas to start with.
My first purchases were
Honey Orchid commercial version
Ba Xian commercial version
Po Tuo ginger flower fragrance Dan Cong
Wu Ye dark leaf Dan Cong
I did start out with the Ba Xian and the Honey Orchid, and when I felt ready, started the Po Tuo and loved them all.
I've since had her Ba Xian Dan Cong, but the first time I infused it, my first infusion was too strong. I realized after a few more infusions that I'd used infusion parameters from the 'commerical' version and the 'Dan Cong' version was quite a bit more intense.
All that said, after reviewing her current offerings (and I'm down to 3 bags left, might be time for an order.....), that particular path is no longer available, because she does not carry the 'commercial' teas anymore. I'd start with her 2019 tasting set of multiple DCs.
I'd pull out two very small thin-walled brewing vessels....this is where I'd bring out one of my glazed porcelain mini-gaiwans and my 50mL 'made by someone who once saw a yixing pot' pot, and infuse 2 grams in each one (the long elegant twisty leaves will need to be gently teased into the vessels as they are wetted, practice with lesser teas so you can do this quickly), and prep several quick/flash infusions to drink side by side and sip them quickly to keep the fragrance, and compare which you prefer.
I infuse these teas as fast as I can pour and drink them at first, and keep going for a dozen or more infusions--another reason for the small vessels.
I usually prep my DCs in small vessels, sometimes I want all the fragrance and use glazed, sometimes I want a little mellow and I use the Chao Zhou or the 'yixing' that is now exclusively for these, and I never stuff them. So the small vessels are both practical because very pricey teas, and practical because you want small volumes you can drink while hot hot hot and fast because so good.
Editing to add: you might also ask Imen for suggestions--she'd probably be quite happy to curate a set of starter DC teas for you.
My first purchases were
Honey Orchid commercial version
Ba Xian commercial version
Po Tuo ginger flower fragrance Dan Cong
Wu Ye dark leaf Dan Cong
I did start out with the Ba Xian and the Honey Orchid, and when I felt ready, started the Po Tuo and loved them all.
I've since had her Ba Xian Dan Cong, but the first time I infused it, my first infusion was too strong. I realized after a few more infusions that I'd used infusion parameters from the 'commerical' version and the 'Dan Cong' version was quite a bit more intense.
All that said, after reviewing her current offerings (and I'm down to 3 bags left, might be time for an order.....), that particular path is no longer available, because she does not carry the 'commercial' teas anymore. I'd start with her 2019 tasting set of multiple DCs.
I'd pull out two very small thin-walled brewing vessels....this is where I'd bring out one of my glazed porcelain mini-gaiwans and my 50mL 'made by someone who once saw a yixing pot' pot, and infuse 2 grams in each one (the long elegant twisty leaves will need to be gently teased into the vessels as they are wetted, practice with lesser teas so you can do this quickly), and prep several quick/flash infusions to drink side by side and sip them quickly to keep the fragrance, and compare which you prefer.
I infuse these teas as fast as I can pour and drink them at first, and keep going for a dozen or more infusions--another reason for the small vessels.
I usually prep my DCs in small vessels, sometimes I want all the fragrance and use glazed, sometimes I want a little mellow and I use the Chao Zhou or the 'yixing' that is now exclusively for these, and I never stuff them. So the small vessels are both practical because very pricey teas, and practical because you want small volumes you can drink while hot hot hot and fast because so good.
Editing to add: you might also ask Imen for suggestions--she'd probably be quite happy to curate a set of starter DC teas for you.