Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
Two Dan Cong lineages propagated from single celebrated trees. Song Zhong commands the larger premium and both carry unverifiable age claims.
Point by point
| Dimension | Ba Xian | Song Zhong Dan Cong |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. heavy roast and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. medium roast and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Phoenix Mountain | China — Phoenix Mountain |
| Flavour | roasted, fruity and woody. full bodied, rich and complex in the mouth. Aroma: dried fruit, toasted grain, warm wood. Layered in character. Bold in intensity. | floral, sweet and fruity. full bodied, rich and complex in the mouth. Aroma: orchid, honey, ripe apricot, warm wood. Layered in character. Bold in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–6 g/100 ml at 95–100 °C, first steep 8s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–6 g/100 ml at 95–100 °C, first steep 8s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Commands a very large premium and is widely imitated. Age claims about individual bushes are not verifiable by a buyer at any price. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants the cup to assert itself and has drunk enough tea to notice what changes between infusions. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants the cup to assert itself and is willing to drink something several times before it makes sense. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.