Dongding Oolong Tea

Dongding Oolong Tea – “Dongding” means “frozen peak,” named after a mountain in the region where this tea originates.

Dongding Oolong is produced in Lugu Township, Nantou County, using the Qingxin cultivar. As the popularity of Dongding Oolong skyrocketed, the local supply could not keep up with demand, prompting other areas around Taiwan to begin growing and producing it. Today, many consider “Dongding” not just as referring to the original tea grown from the Qingxin cultivar in Lugu, but also as the name describing a specific style of tea that closely resembles the original. Some tea purists may not necessarily agree, but there are indeed some excellent Dongding Oolongs available, including those with more traditional roasted styles as well as lighter oxidation floral versions. If you're interested in exploring the more traditional roasted styles, you might also enjoy trying our Meishan Hongshui Oolong Tea.

This Dongding Oolong Tea is made from the classic (Qingxin) cultivar. While there are many modern versions of this tea on the market—characterized by light oxidation and strong floral notes—this is a more complex, traditionally roasted version. These more traditional Dongding Oolongs are hard to come by. This is partly due to shifting market preferences — lightly oxidized floral teas are favored by many tea drinkers. It’s also because crafting this type of oolong the traditional way requires exceptional skill, care, focus, and most importantly, time.

After a sophisticated multiple-roasting process, this oolong tea has a pale golden hue, with lovely floral notes and comforting roasted aromas. The roasting process involves low heat and long, slow baking, resulting in a tea that is richly sweet yet retains floral characteristics. Its appearance is complex, striking a delicate balance between floral and toasty notes. You can taste exotic flowers, spices, caramelized nuts, and wild honey.