Dong Ding Oolong tea, Competition, (5flowers), 冬鼎竞赛级乌龙茶（五朵花）

This is not just Dong Ding, this is competition-grade Dong Ding, crafted from the prized Jin Xuan cultivar and honored with a Five Blossoms award in Taiwan’s prestigious Lugu Township competition.

Only 12 kilograms of this batch exist in the world. We secured a small share, directly from the tea master who baked it. Now it’s here, sealed with its competition label — your guarantee of authenticity and craft.

Why This Tea Stands Out
While most Dong Ding uses the floral Qing Xin cultivar, this version is made with Jin Xuan - famous for creamy, milky notes. Here, those delicate traits meet the deep, layered roast of traditional Dong Ding processing: baked not once, but four times, over 10 hours each, to achieve a sublime balance between fresh florals and baked richness.

The result? A tea of elegant complexity, creamy but not too soft, roasted but not heavy, floral but never fleeting.

Tasting Notes

• Liquor: Warm golden-copper.

• Aroma: Comforting roast, light cream, subtle dried flowers.

• Flavor: Starts bright and tart (think yellow plum), then unfolds into baked grains, sweet cream, and a clean mineral finish. The roast is present but refined , a supporting actor, not the star.

• Aftertaste: Clean, fresh, with a faint metallic shimmer that speaks of its rocky terroir.

A Tea That Ages Gracefully
Fresh now, but built to evolve. We suspect this oolong will deepen beautifully with a few months’ rest -or years of careful aging.

The Competition Story
In Taiwan, competition tea is serious business. Farmers submit over 13 kg of tea; only the awarded portion is sealed and auctioned. Top grades sell for astronomical sums. Our Five Blossoms grade sits proudly in the middle, exceptional quality without the celebrity price tag.

Brewing Recommendations

• Amount: 5-6g per 150ml

• Water: 95°C 

• Steep: 30-45 seconds initially, increasing with each infusion. Gongfu style recommended to appreciate its unfolding layers

Details

• Name: Dong Ding Competition Third Grade Jin Xuan Oolong

• Harvest: Spring 2025 (Lot 0253)

• Cultivar: Jin Xuan (TRES #12)

• Origin: Lugu Township, Nantou, Taiwan

• Award: Five Blossoms (五梅花)

• Processing: 4x baked, traditional Dong Ding style