Review: Da Wu Ye Dancong Oolong

Name: Da Wu Ye Dancong Oolong

Seller: WudongTea

Origin: Fenghuang Mountain, Guangdong Province, China

Season: Spring 2019

Steeps: 190°F, 20 seconds to start, adding 10 seconds with each steep

I am a frequent oolong drinker, but this was only the first or second time I’ve had Da Wu Ye. Its name means “Big Dark Leaf,” and though not too large, they are indeed dark.

The wet leaves’ smell is very strong. It’s intensely sweet: honeysuckle or orchid with a strong cherry note. If someone bottled this and turned it into a perfume, I would buy it. I could smell this all day. Very similar aroma to shui xian oolongs.

1st and 2nd Steeps

The liquor is yellow, almost the color of buttercups. Though not nearly as sweet as the leaves smell, the orchid carries over into the taste. Moderate to high astringency, and a thick body that coats the tongue. The second steep is much the same.

3rd Steep

A mineral note has appeared, mingling with the flowers. Orchid is the only note that lingers in the aftertaste.

4th and 5th Steeps

The liquor has become paler. It still tastes faintly floral, and the mineral flavor is more pronounced. Taken together, they conjure up imagery of a craggy rock outcrop, wildflowers waving in the breeze beneath grey skies. Not at all gloomy, but rather refreshing and bracing.

Overall Impressions

Despite drinking this on a sunny afternoon, the later infusions brought to mind distinctly overcast, windswept vistas. This was a really interesting transition from the wildflower aromas of the first few steeps. Pretty enjoyable. However, the extremely sweet, strikingly cherry smell of the wet leaves is probably my favorite part of this session. I keep going back to the gaiwan to breathe it in.

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