Grown on Wudong Peak, the most prized tea-growing region in the Phoenix Mountains. The wulongs produced in this region tend to be bold, floral, fruity, and foresty. "Da Wu Ye" translates to "Big Black Leaf," as its leaves are large and black, with occasional yellow highlights. Its aroma is intoxicating, foresty, and floral, though somewhat less floral than Jade Orchid, with strong honeysuckle sweetness and notes of plum blossom. It produces a golden brew with a delicate, floral flavor reminiscent of jasmine, honeysuckle, and plum blossoms. Take care in brewing this tea, as it is quite sensitive, and its bitter elements will be heavily accentuated if over-steeped. The flavor of this tea is also highly dependent on the water used; brewing it with some good spring water is highly recommended. The qi of this tea is dry, and its energetic temperature relatively neutral. It helps open the sinuses and the portals (clarifies the senses), and stimulates lively conversation.
If this tea were a person, it would be a refined young woman with a lovely face and a fierce temper, who wears flowers in her long, braided hair, and keeps a bladed fan concealed in the layers of her robe as she strolls beside a beautiful lotus pond, studying in the shade of the willows on its banks.
This tea is delicious, but should be brewed with care and attention. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.
Lasts ~6 brews.
Nomenclature: The Chinese name of this tea is 大烏葉單叢/大乌叶单丛 - Dà Wū Yè Dān Cóng.
大 - Dà - Big, large, great.
烏/乌 - Wū/Wù - Crow, black.
葉/叶 - Yè - Leaf.
單/单 - Dān - Single.
叢/丛 - Cóng - Bush, shrub. This is often used in contrast to 喬/乔 (qiáo), which is used to refer to the arboreal tea varietals.
The teas of the Phoenix Mountains are referred to as *Dāncóng (單叢/单丛), meaning "single bush." This is because, traditionally, the leaves from each of tea bush would be kept separate, allowing one to taste the flavor produced by one particular bush. While this is no longer standard practice in the Phoenix Mountains, the teas of this region have retained the name.
*(The "c" in Chinese is pronounced "ts.")
Price is per 50 grams/1.76 ounces