Ba Xian

This 'eight immortals' from Tianyu Chaye might as well be named for the many faces it displays—now fruity, now spicy, soft, then astringent, changing with each infusion—while simultaneously maintaining that essential Dancong character. Among the colors of this scintillating foreground, tasters may be able to spot such notes as mace, peach, green peppercorn, cream, stone, honey, or plum above the backdrop of a balanced mouthfeel, both juicy and a little drying. Its protean character could serve as an introduction to the world of Dancong for the novice, but will truly satisfy the enthusiast who likes a little of everything.
  • ORIGIN:  Fenghuang, Chaoan, Chaozhou, Guangdong, China
  • MEANING:  Eight immortals (ba xian)
  • CULTIVAR:  Ba Xian
  • HARVEST TIME:  Spring 2021
  • TASTE:  Peach, mace, mineral
1
$12.00

Preparation

IN THE TEAPOT
  • Quantity: 6g / 500ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • Infusion time: 4–5 min
GONGFU CHA METHOD
  • Quantity: 3g / 100ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • 4 infusions: 45, 60, 60, 90 sec

For best results in gongfu cha, brew in the traditional gaiwan or in a Yixing teapot. Too high water temperature would burn the leaves, resulting in bitter taste.

Additional Information

Tianyu Chaye and Ye Hangzhong

When farmers in Chaozhou tended to sell their tea only locally, to a limited number of customers, Ye Hangzhong was someone who saw the potential in the fine Fenghuang Dancong oolongs, and has helped to bring the category to wider worldwide attention. Leveraging his many connections and deep knowledge of Dancong, he gathered many quality examples to offer them under his brand, Tianyu Chaye, becoming a famous figure in the Dancong world: a member of the Chaozhou's tea bureau, active in the major tea events in the province, and a referee in many tea competitions. When Gabriele visited him in 2014, he was amazed by the quality of the teas, which were at the time prohibitively expensive for our fledgeling business. Now, almost ten years later, we are delighted to be able to offer teas from this premium brand, selecting (with difficulty!) six out of a dozen samples to offer our customers.

Ye Hanzhong pouring a flight of teas to taste