Lao Cong Xiong Di Zai Dancong

Information

Origine: Chao Zhou, Guang Dong Province
Harvesting area : Feng Huang Town, Feng Xi Village, Dan Hu ethnic village
Plantation altitude: ~800 meters above sea level
Harvesting: Spring 2025
Average tree age: 40 yo
Vqriety: Xiong Di Zai
Net weight: 50gr

“Xiong Di Zai” originally referred to two ancient tea trees growing on adjacent terraces, whose forms and leaves were nearly identical, their branches intertwining as if bound by brotherly affection. For decades, the grandfather of tea maker Wen Yanzao would always harvest and process their fresh leaves together. The resulting tea was exceptionally fine, and so it came to be known as Xiong Di Zai. 

This year marks the first time that Jing Tea Shop formally introduces this rare cultivar to Dancong lovers. The tea comes from old tea trees in Dan Hu Village, growing at an elevation of 950 meters. These venerable bushes are tended by the family of our tea master Brother Huang’s cousin. Deep-rooted and time-honored, they are crafted with precision—both in material and fire—showcasing the maker’s refined artistry.

Locally, Xiong Di Zai is classified as a Huang Zhi Xiang (Gardenia Fragrance) Dancong. Its natural gardenia aroma unfolds in elegant layers—delicate, graceful, and lingering. Yet to me, there’s also a subtle undercurrent of ginger warmth, giving the tea an intriguing edge: gentle on the surface, but quietly mysterious and cool within.

This batch was harvested before Gu Yu and has undergone three rounds of wood charcoal roasting. The fire is steady and patient, letting the aroma sink deep into both leaf and liquor. The dry leaves are tightly rolled and lustrous; the first scent reveals a warm, comforting roast, followed by refined and elongated gardenia notes that fill the nose with an elegant sweetness. A faint touch of milkiness softens the fragrance—sweet yet never cloying, poised with perfect restraint.

When brewed, the liquor glows a clear amber-orange. A sip reveals a pure and rounded texture; aromas unfold in waves, rising along the tongue and through the breath. With each cup, the honeyed tones, gardenia aroma along with pomelo-blossom freshness, and clean, gingery brightness weave together in quiet harmony—subtle, elusive, and utterly captivating.

The Cong Yun (old bush) character is unmistakable here: a foresty depth reminiscent of moss-covered wood and wild mushrooms—calm, foresty, and vibrantly alive.

Suggestions

Yixing pairing: Pin Zi Ni, Chao Zhou teapot, Qing Shui Ni
Water temperature: 90C
Storage: Drink now, store cool and dry