Home / Oolong / Taiwan / Dong Ding Oolong

Oolong tea · Frozen Summit

Dong Ding Oolong

凍頂, Tung Ting

8.1/10 editor's score

A classic Taiwanese rolled oolong from Dong Ding mountain in Lugu, Nantou. Traditionally medium-oxidised and roasted, it is warm, nutty and sweet.

RoastedRolledTaiwan
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Dong Ding Oolong, top-down

What you need

3 g leafDong Ding Oolong
250 ml water90 to 95°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorGolden amber
Served inGaiwan and small cups

At a glance

A classic Taiwanese rolled oolong from Dong Ding mountain in Lugu, Nantou.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpring and winterMain picking.
Pairs withRoast duck, Mooncakes, Mushrooms, NutsLess good with very spicy food
Grown atAbout 600 to 1,000 mLugu, Nantou, Nantou County
Served inGaiwan and small cupsGongfu style, many short steeps

About Dong Ding Oolong

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe Dong Ding as a rolled oolong whose name now covers a processing style as well as a place 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

Lugu, NantouNantou CountyTAIWAN
Region
Lugu, Nantou, home of Dongding oolong 3
Name
"Frozen Summit" or "Icy Peak" 1
Origin
Qingxin plants brought from Wuyi, Fujian, about 150 years ago 1
Style
A processing style now made across Taiwan 1

More from Lugu, Nantou and Taiwan.

History and culture

According to reports, the scholar Ling Fong Chi brought tea plants back from Fujian as souvenirs for his relatives, about 150 years ago 1.

The name first meant tea from the mountain itself; now the style is made elsewhere in Taiwan too 1.

Editor's score

8.1/10

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: 8.5Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 7.5Value: 8.0Beginner-friendliness: 8.0Versatility: 7.5Flavour 8.5Heritage 8.5Availability 7.5Value 8.0Beginners 8.0Versatility 7.5
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
Dong Ding Oolong~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

Taiwan picks oolong in spring and winter. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Mainly the Qingxin variety 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

Two or three leaves and a bud.

02Withering

Sun and indoor withering.

03Oxidation

Medium.

04Rolling

Cloth-rolled into balls.

05Roasting

Charcoal or electric roast.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafTight, dark green to brownish half-balls.
LiquorGolden amber.
After steeping
Wet leafLarge, whole leaves with red edges.

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

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Roast duck
  • Mooncakes
  • Mushrooms
  • Nuts

Best avoided

  • Very spicy food

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

Roast level and season matter more than grade names.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Labels should say where it grew: Dong Ding style is made elsewhere 1.
  2. Fresh roast should smell sweet, not burnt.
FAQ
Is Dong Ding always from Dong Ding?

No. The name is now used for the style too, so check the label 1.

Find it inOolong teasTeas from TaiwanLugu, NantouRoastedRolledTaiwan

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Dong Ding tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dong_Ding_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Taiwanese tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_tea
  3. Wikipedia, "Lugu, Nantou". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugu,_Nantou
  4. 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.