Dong Ding

Dong Ding  is not "Ding-Dong!"   Dong Ding (aka Tung Ting) means frozen peak and is an acclaimed Taiwanese Oolong.   Around 1885 a Taiwanese scholar returned to Lugu (deer valley) from China with 36 tea plants from Wuyi mountains as a gift for his sponsor. These shrubs were planted on Lugu's mountain hill side and flourished.  Years later when a tea was skillfully made, it was named Dong Ding, after the mountain in Lugu township of Nantou district.

The tea growers in Lugu organized the first tea competition in Taiwan in 1975.   The competition, now held twice a year, assesses and selects the best Dong Ding teas of the season from thousands of entries.   A champion tea winner can expect to fetch a handsome price for his or her tea.  The record was set in 2011 at US$5200 per 600 gram for the champion tea.  

This Dong Ding is not a competition grade but is nonetheless nice, light and mild.

Dong Ding

Type:  Oolong     Producing Country:  Taiwan     Preparation:  90°C 5 Min

Dry Leaf:   The dark green pearls are sweet and biscuity.  

Wet Leaf:  The large olive green leaves with stems are floral.  

Liquor:       This tea is pale green.  It is light, mild, sweet, creamy and faintly floral. 

Tee Score: 4 out of 5