Duck Shit Oolong (Ya Shi Xiang)

“The Duck Shit experience is so elegant and delicious to savour. Love the almost perfumed undertone that runs through the nostrils when sipping it. Wow.” – Ella, West Sussex

“Dan, words cannot express the wonderful tea CHASH provides” – Dee, Tea connoisseur

If Dan Cong’s are named after the aroma (Xiang) they produce, why would a farmer produce one called Ya Shi (duck shit)?!

Well…

Around 100 years ago a farmer from Phoenix Town produced a tea from his garden on the Phoenix Mountains (Feng Huan Shan) with a fragrance of such floral intensity that it reached his neighbours.

Fascinated with the fragrant aroma, the neighbours rushed to ask him about his new tea cultivar. This zealous interest made the farmer suspicious of their intentions and, afraid they wished to steal his creation, he decided to discourage them. So he made up the story that despite the wonderful floral aroma it tasted like duck shit!

(quite how the neighbours were so easily duped is not known)

Now Ya Shi Xiang is a famous cultivar. Like most Phoenix Oolongs it is processed by the traditional farming method.

Our Ya Shi is farmed at a height of 465m on Mount Wu Dong in the garden of Li Zhi Gao and prepared each May by Mr Li himself. It is prized for its sweet, mellow taste but mostly for the flowery fragrance that first alerted those neighbours.

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ORIGIN – Mount Wu Dong, Guangdong, China

HOW IS IT MADE – Withering-Tossing-Fermentation-Frying-Rolling-Baking

TRADITIONAL OR RARE – Rare

AROMA – Mineral, with layers of Fruit

TASTE – Ocean air and wet rocks

HEALTH BENEFITS – High antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Studies indicate Oolong helps fight cancer and weight loss

CAFFEINE CONTENT – Medium

WHEN IS IT BEST – Whenever you have a moment to savour

WHAT MAKES IT LUXURY – Prepared by Mr Li. We bought it on the spot!
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Cost Per Cup ~ 30p