Batch 57 of the Eco-Cha Tea Club is a competition grade Dong Ding Tsui Yu  (Ton Tin Cui Yu) Oolong Tea that received Top Award (top 5%) prize in the spring 2020 competition held by the Nantou County Tea Trade Association. This competition promotes specialty tea production from lower elevation tea producing regions, where there there is a rich history of traditional tea making.

Dong Ding Oolong is a name given to traditionally made tea in the Lugu area of southern Nantou County, Taiwan. The quality standard of this tea has been largely determined by local competitions in the last 40 years. While Dong Ding is the name of a mountain in Lugu that is most renowned for this tea type, the name now designates a recipe more than a locale. It represents processing methods and the flavor profile that results from  these methods.

The processing methods involve wilting and oxidizing the leaves with finesse to produce a uniform transformation of the chemical compounds in the tea leaves that offer a rich, balanced, yet complex flavor profile. This flavor profile is then enhanced by slowly roasting the leaves at low temperatures (80-120°C). The final result is a smooth, caramelized character with toasted nutty flavor notes, and a heady lingering finish that is exceptionally satisfying.

This batch of award-winning Dong Ding Cui Yu is made from well cultivated and skillfully processed tea leaves from the hybrid cultivar Tai Cha #13, or Tsui Yu (Cui Yu). Our friends then sorted the leaves to use only the best quality portion of this harvest to roast to perfection. The brewed tea offers a complex balance of fresh vibrant tea leaf character and toasted grains and nuts flavor notes, with a fruity/smoky finish. If you like a tea with a hearty character, this one's for you!

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