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
Both come from the widely planted Bai Ye stock, which is why they are the most available Dan Congs. Availability rather than quality is what separates them from the rarer types.
Point by point
| Dimension | Ya Shi Xiang Dan Cong | Ling Tou Dan Cong |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting. light roast, bud and three plus and spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Strip rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. light roast and spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Phoenix Mountain | China — Phoenix Mountain |
| Flavour | floral, mineral and citrus. astringent in the mouth. Aroma: gardenia, wet stone, grapefruit peel, wildflower. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. | floral, sweet and fruity. medium and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: honey, gardenia, light apricot. Moderate in character. Moderate 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. Flash-chilled iced tea: 2.5–4 g/100 ml at 92–100 °C, first steep 60s. Chaozhou gongfu brewing (three cups): 8–13 g/100 ml at 96–100 °C, first steep 5s of 8 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. Flash-chilled iced tea: 2.5–4 g/100 ml at 92–100 °C, first steep 60s. Chaozhou gongfu brewing (three cups): 8–13 g/100 ml at 96–100 °C, first steep 5s of 8 authored. |
| Cultural context | Used in Chaozhou gongfu cha. The origin story about deterring thieves is folklore and should be read as such. What is verifiable is that the aroma type is well established and that both names refer to the same tea. | Not recorded for this tea. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and is willing to drink something several times before it makes sense. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. |
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.