Chou Shi King of Duck Shit Dan Cong Oolong Spring 2016

I got a sample of this tea from an awesome teafriend. It is my first go with a Duck Shit oolong or any kind of greener Dancong. I’m not sure I ever actually nailed the brewing over my three sessions with it. First attempt, I used boiled water, and it was generally bitter and unpleasant – failure. Next two, I used 195F water, which was much better.

The dry leaf had a creamy/milky, floral, honeysuckle sort of aroma to it. Once wet, it smelled more heavily floral, and also a bit vegetal.

The flavor was floral, buttery, creamy, and vegetal. I didn’t notice much of any evolution over the course of the session. Pretty constant and tasty. Based upon this session alone, I prefer the darker dancongs, but I still need to try some more green ones.

Backlog

My friend had wanted to try my favorite oolong in my collection. I had saved the last 6g of this for a “special occasion.” So what better occasion to try this again than with a tea newbie?

Now, I’ll note that I used to drink this tea differently—err, I had thought of it differently, perhaps; however, my friend had pointed out new flavors that I’ve never thought about until I really thought about the tea while drinking it with him.

My notes, without his palate would’ve read, “Honeydew, jack fruit (?), and slight pineapple.”

Yes, there are “fruity” notes to the tea, but the best explanation of the tea now is: “Buttery water with fruit.” He noted specifically, “That little bit of water left in the bowl after eating broccoli—buttery and vegatal—that, with a bit of fruit…..”

I still really enjoyed this tea…..

This is my favorite of the Duck Shits that I got from my tea friend.

It has a milky, creamy mouthfeel. It’s thick and almost oily in the mouth, but I’m also getting hints of astringency on the back of the palate after I’ve swallowed.

Flavor wise, it has a bit of that green funk, of which I am a fan. Vegetal a bit? It’s mostly sweet and floral flavored. Very nice experience.

re-review as I found this works a lot better in small gaiwain, slightly overleafed (thanks whoever suggested that in the tea of the day thread) & 70c water, treating like a green, flash steeping.

You do really need kids gloves with this one to stop it tasting soapy, but this way there is the classic ya shi perfume & slightly nutty aroma, but on an almost green-tea base. Not any citrus bitter, but interesting dry vegetal taste buried under the pearlescent aroma.

Weird tea for sure.