Zhi Lan Xiang

Most interesting. Tried the 2015 spring. I must say that after drinking mostly shou and hong cha for last 3 month its great to do a gongfu session with a superb Dan Cong. I mean I did try to make this several ways, grandpa and western style but it doesn’t do this tea service. This tea only can be drunk as a gongfu session, IMHO. Used a lot of leaf to a new celadon pot and went outside to brew and watch the bluebirds vie for nest boxes. The tea is of medium roast and gives a supple soup pumpkin in hue with medium viscosity. The first few steeps offer up the most intense floral honeysuckle and orange blossom flavors and aromas. Middle steeps send the florals into the background and a vegetal sweetness takes center stage akin to butternut squash. Next presence of minerality adding a bit of nuance during the later steeps. Overall not too lengthy, 8 steeps but that is just what it wanted me to have. Again if you have the bucks and really enjoy a bring it home gongfu session with Dan Cong , try any of Tea Drunk’s selection, they’re that good.

This tea is from 2015, and I have to say it is pretty solid. I am not really a fan of Phoenix Wu Longs. I find no great flaws in them, but they dont get me excited. I find them a little to perfumey and thin. I bought Tea Drunk’s Zhi Lan Xiang cause I knew the cultivar was a little stronger than other Feng Huangs.
This medium roasted tea is quite nice. With a medium body, I describe this tea as having a squash/pumpkin taste. The fact it is a feng huang does add a little bitterness and texture, but this compliments nicely with the simple full flavor.
I would probably rate this tea higher, but since I am not a feng huang fan my bias comes into play.