Cultivar: Qingxin Oolong

Harvested by hand on April 18th, 2025.

Origin: Yong Lung, Dong Ding area, central Taiwan.

Process: Light to medium oxidized rolled Oolong with a slow charcoal roast mid July.

1. The view

The dry leaves are dark green to brown. The brew has clear and shiny orange color. The open leaves unfurl pretty well for a roasted Oolong. Their stems are torn, a sign of hand picking.

2. The scents

Dry leaves have the authentic Dong Ding Oolong fragrance. The charcoal roasting is still recent and its flavors are quite powerful this year. The beverage smells of ripe fruit.

3. The taste

The taste is smooth and creamy, with a fruity, tangy note that adds power to the aftertaste. The charcoal roast is similar in power to the winter version of 2024, but this spring batch still exhibits more of the underlying spring freshness of the leaves.

Conclusion: This authentic Dong Ding Oolong comes closer to the competition Dong Ding style. The roasting is a little bit lighter and intensifies the Dong Ding flavors rather than modifying them. This is a very rare charcoal roasted Dong Ding Oolong. To make it right, the farmer didn't rush its production this spring, but waited until July, after the summer harvests, in order to roast his tea in ideal conditions. And if you want to better understand the impact of the roasting, you may also try the fresh version of this tea!