Verdant Tea

2021 King of Thieves Dancong

2021 King of Thieves Dancong

CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK
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Legendary Ancient Dancong
Only a few kilos of this rare Dancong are picked every year from a stand of old tea trees on Wudongshan that yield a uniquely cooling pine flavor and notes of lilac, rye, juniper, and pomegranate with a thick, almost resinous texture.
Spring 2021 ♦ Wudongshan, Guandong
Legendary Ancient Dancong
Only a few kilos of this rare Dancong are picked every year from a stand of old tea trees on Wudongshan that yield a uniquely cooling pine flavor and notes of lilac, rye, juniper, and pomegranate with a thick, almost resinous texture.
Spring 2021 ♦ Wudongshan, Guandong
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Crafted by Huang Rui Guang

Recognized by Chaozhou as a living cultural treasure, Master Huang Ruiguang is the grandfather of modern Dancong. His status and award-winning history give him and his family picking rights to one of the best old-growth Dancong plots in Wudongshan.
 
Huang Ruiguang is devoted to continuing his work as a steward of rare ancient Dancong and as a teacher to nearly every family in the village, setting the standard for what defines the very best in competition-level taste, texture and aroma.
    • DATE OF PICKINGSpring 2021
    • Wudong ShanGuangdong Province
    • ELEVATION1000 METERS
    • King of Thieves TreeTea Varietal

    贼王 or “King of Thieves" got its name from the famous story of a thief stealing this valuable tea tree in the middle of the night over 200 years ago, but leaving some of the roots and trunk in their haste to cut it down. King of Thieves growing today is said to have regrown from that little remaining root stock. This tea was hand picked and hand processed over 24 hours of intense labor to bring out its rich nuanced dessert-like flavor and spiced tropical undertones. The biodiversity of the high elevation Wudongshan plot give this tea deep cooling yun notes. Since only several kilos are picked each year, Huang Ruiguang personally oversees the 24 hour yaoqing finishing process, all without machinery, helping his two sons hone in on the striking one of a kind aromatics and texture that this tea has to offer.

  • true
    100
    frankincense, pine
    true
    75
    rye malt
    true
    60
    lotus, lilac
    true
    75
    pomegranate, juniper
    false
    80
    tulsi, grape leaf
    true
    thick, resinous, cooling

    Tasting Profile

    • spice - frankincense, pine
    • savory - rye malt
    • floral - lotus, lilac
    • fruit - pomegranate, juniper
    • texture - thick, resinous, cooling


Huang Ruiguang also recommends

  1. 2022 Da Wu Ye Dancong
    2022 Da Wu Ye Dancong
    Da Wu Ye is a truly unique varietal in its intense savory and spicy notes. While most Dancong is all about perfumed floral aromatics, this tea is about texture and flavor. Da Wu Ye varietal takes its name from the unusually large deep green leaves. This harvest comes from mid-elevation Wudongshan stock, picked once a year and processed over 24 hours to bring out the deep savory undertones.
  2. 2022 Ba Xian Dancong
    2022 Ba Xian Dancong
    八仙 or Ba Xian references the eight Taoist immortals, a truly evocative name for a truly unique tea. Huang Ruiguang says that originally, there were eight trees growing next to each other, each with a different flavor and appearance, like the Taoist Immortals. Today, five of the eight original trees still remain. Huang Ruiguang’s tree has one of the most perfectly situated east-facing high elevation slopes on Wudongshan, earned for a lifetime of contribution to Fenghuang as an agricultural pioneer and master taster. His Ba Xian Dancong is lush and juicy, full of tropical flower and fruit flavors, coaxed out over 24 hours of intense hand processing.
  3. 2022 Ji Long Kan Dancong
    2022 Ji Long Kan Dancong
    Huang Ruiguang’s Ji Long Kan Dancong is an incredibly unique high elevation tea. The Ji Long Kan tea tree gets its name from its similarity to a "chicken pen" in appearance. Huang Rui Guang and his sons hand picked and hand processed over 24 hours of continuous intensive labor to bring out all the nuanced fruit and florals. The biodiversity of the region and unique microclimate lends a cooling ‘yun’ sensation to this tea for a persistent and commanding taste experience. Master Huang's work in Dancong tasting and agriculture has won him countless awards and recognition, a biography in a 2015 published book on the history of Dancong, and leadership in every convention and tasting event in Guangdong. This tea represents his personal selection to represent the absolute best of what his family produces, and only a few kilograms are available each year. We are excited for the chance to share this incredibly rare tea.
  • 'An accomplished technical master of tea, Huang Rui Guang is affectionately called a ‘modern tea sage’ by many. He likes to say that one love is enough in life, and his is tea. This excerpt is an attempt to portray a small piece of one man’s contributions to and love of tea'

  • 5-10
    6-8
    208
    20 seconds
    10
    10
    6
    208
    6 seconds
    4
    5
    12
    room temp
    8 hours

    Steeping Instructions

    Western

    5-10 g.6-8
    oz.
    use 208° watersteep 20 secondsresteep many times
    add 10 sec. each infusion

    Gongfu

    10 g.6 ozuse 208° watersteep 6 seconds
    add 4 sec. per steeping
    enjoy many steepings

    Iced/Cold

    5 g.12
    oz.
    use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
    8 hours
    add ice & enjoy

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