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Oolong tea · Single bush

Phoenix Dan Cong

单丛, Fenghuang Dancong

7.8/10 editor's score

Strip-style oolongs from Phoenix Mountain in Guangdong, famous for copying the scents of flowers and fruit. Honey Orchid is the best-known.

FragrantGongfuGuangdong
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Phoenix Dan Cong, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafPhoenix Dan Cong
250 ml water90 to 95°C
Steep 2:002 steeps
LiquorBright golden orange
Served inYixing clay teapot

At a glance

Strip-style oolongs from Phoenix Mountain in Guangdong, famous for copying the scents of flowers and fruit.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit6.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpringThe main picking.
Pairs withCantonese roast meats, Dim sum, Stone fruitLess good with delicate fish
Grown atPhoenix Mountain slopesPhoenix Mountain, Chaozhou, Guangdong
Served inYixing clay teapotSmall clay pot, tiny cups

About Phoenix Dan Cong

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe Dan Cong as able to imitate the flavours and fragrances of flowers and fruit, such as orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond and ginger flower 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Phoenix Mountain, ChaozhouGuangdongCHINA
Region
Phoenix Mountain, Guangdong 1
Style
Long, twisted strip oolong 1
Name
Once meant tea from a single tree 1
Famous for
Natural flower and fruit aromas 1

More from Phoenix Mountain, Chaozhou and China.

History and culture

"Dancong" first meant teas picked from one single tree; now it covers all Phoenix Mountain oolongs 1.

Editor's score

7.8/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 9.0Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 6.5Value: 7.0Beginner-friendliness: 6.5Versatility: 7.0Flavour 9.0Heritage 8.5Availability 6.5Value 7.0Beginners 6.5Versatility 7.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Phoenix Dan Cong~30 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Dan Cong is made mainly in spring. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Many named single-bush selections of Camellia sinensis.

How it is made
01Plucking

Mature leaves.

02Withering

Sun and shade.

03Oxidation

Medium, with long tossing.

04Shaping

Twisted into strips 1.

05Roasting

Light to medium.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafLong, dark brown strips.
LiquorBright golden orange.
After steeping
Wet leafLong leaves with red edges.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Cantonese roast meats
  • Dim sum
  • Stone fruit

Best avoided

  • Delicate fish

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Sold by aroma type: Honey Orchid (Mi Lan Xiang), Duck Shit (Ya Shi Xiang) and others.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. True single-tree lots are rare and costly 1.
  2. Short steeps are key.
FAQ
Why so many names?

Dan Cong is sold by aroma type, each from different bushes.

Find it inOolong teasTeas from ChinaPhoenix Mountain, ChaozhouFragrantGongfuGuangdong

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Oolong". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolong
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.