Song Zhong Dan Cong
Dan Cong from the oldest surviving Phoenix Mountain trees, individually named and harvested separately rather than blended. 'Song' refers to claimed descent from Song-dynasty plantings; what is verifiable is that the trees are old and propagated from rather than replanted.
Character
The most concentrated Dan Cong there is, with a length no younger bush matches — and a bitterness that punishes any over-steeping.
- Flavour
- Floral, Sweet, Fruity
- Aroma
- Orchid, Honeyed
- Mouthfeel
- Full bodied, Rich, Complex
- Complexity
- Layered
- Notes
- orchid, honey, ripe apricot, warm wood
- Aftertaste
- Enormous length, with a returning sweetness that arrives seconds later.
Bold intensity: full-bodied, astringent or bitter enough to lead the cup.
Provenance and production
- Origin
- China
- Region
- Phoenix Mountain
- Cultivar
- Song Zhong
- Oxidation
- Partially oxidised
- Roast
- Medium
- Harvest
- Spring
- Processing
- Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting
Authenticity: Commands a very large premium and is widely imitated. Age claims about individual bushes are not verifiable by a buyer at any price.
Brewing
Gongfu brewing (gaiwan)
5–6 g/100 ml · 95–100 °C · 6 authored infusions
Western brewing (teapot or mug)
1.5–2.5 g/100 ml · 90–95 °C · 2 authored infusions
No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.
If you like this
Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.
Editorially linked
Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.
- Ba Xian
From the heavily roasted and forgiving end of Dan Cong to the old-bush material that punishes every extra second.
- Mi Lan Xiang Dan Cong
Old-bush Phoenix material and the most planted aroma type. Same mountain, same technique, an enormous gap in concentration.
Similar sensory profile
Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.
- Bingdao sheng pu-erh
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: sweet, floral, full bodied, complex, orchid and honeyed.
- Gu Shu black tea
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: sweet, fruity, full bodied, rich, complex and honeyed.
- Gui Hua Xiang
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: floral, fruity, sweet, full bodied, complex and honeyed.
- Li Shan
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: floral, sweet, fruity, full bodied, rich and orchid.
- Phoenix Dan Cong
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: floral, fruity, sweet, complex, orchid and honeyed.
- Yiwu sheng pu-erh
Shares 6 descriptors with Song Zhong Dan Cong: floral, sweet, fruity, full bodied, honeyed and orchid.