2016 Dong Ding Oolong

This is one of my personal favorites and a tea I drink pretty regularly. One of the things I love about this Dong Ding is how forgiving it is. You really don’t need to overthink the water temperature or steeping time. I’ve brewed it all sorts of ways and it always seems to come out good. Play around with it and see how you like it.

This tea was harvested in the spring of 2016 in Lugu, also known as Deer Valley, in Nantou County, Taiwan, at around 600 meters. It is a medium oxidized, medium roasted Dong Ding that has now had about ten years to age.

The first thing I notice when I smell this tea is pine forest. There’s something about the aroma that reminds me of being outside on a crisp fall day. The flavor has a nice balance of fruit and nuttiness with the roast coming through without taking over the tea. It’s smooth, warming, and just a really enjoyable tea to drink.

The tea was roasted by a fifth generation family tea shop in Taipei that has been roasting tea since the late 1800s. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with the family and drink tea with them, and they have become one of my favorite sources for Taiwanese tea. They are particular about the tea they buy and work with growers focused on organic and pesticide free farming.

Brewing

I really like this tea brewed Gong Fu style in a gaiwan or small clay pot. I usually just add leaves by feel, but around 2 to 3 grams in a small to medium gaiwan is a good place to start.

With Dong Ding, I was taught in Taiwan to use boiling water. I usually let the first infusion go for around 45 seconds and then add another 20 to 30 seconds with each steep. You should easily get five or more good infusions from the leaves.

If you’re brewing in a mug, use around 2 grams of tea in a strainer for an 8 ounce cup. Steep for about a minute, or longer if you like it stronger, and then keep resteeping the leaves. You won’t get quite the same experience as brewing Gong Fu style, but you’ll still get a great cup of tea.

If you’re new to Gong Fu Cha, I put together a free guide that walks you through brewing tea in small pots over multiple infusions. You can download it here:

https://ojasnaturals.myshopify.com/products/gong-fu-tea-guide

Photo: James Keskimaki