How to Drink Dong Ding Oolong Tea
Dong Ding Oolong Tea is best enjoyed hot, allowing you to savor its evolving layers through multiple infusions. It is recommended to use a porcelain teapot or porcelain wares, brewing with boiling water at around 100°C. The tea can be steeped more than eight times, with each infusion offering a unique aroma and taste experience.
Choosing the Right Teaware
When brewing Dong Ding Oolong, use a round-shaped teapot that allows the leaves to fully unfurl. Porcelain teapots or Zhuni clay teapots are ideal. Since Dong Ding leaves are rolled into semi-ball shapes, they require ample space to expand and release their full flavor.
Porcelain is particularly effective in showcasing Dong Ding’s elegant fragrance. In fact, porcelain tea sets are the standard in Taiwan’s tea competitions. Lightly fermented teas hold delicate floral aromas, and if brewed in porous clay pots, much of the fragrance is absorbed, diminishing the true aromatic experience.
Water and Brewing Techniques
For water, it is best to let tap water sit overnight to release chlorine, or choose high-quality mineral water. When heating, start with low heat, then increase to high; once the water bubbles resemble “crab eyes” and you hear a flowing sound, the water has reached its ideal state. This first boil produces the softest water, perfect for brewing.
When pouring, the stream of water should be steady and energetic, not rushed or inconsistent. Steeping time should be adjusted according to personal taste rather than fixed seconds. The charm of Dong Ding lies in its transformations across multiple infusions—this progression is the heart of its tasting enjoyment.
Layered Tasting Experience
The essence of Dong Ding Oolong lies in appreciating its evolving depth:
- 1st–2nd infusions: showcase its floral fragrance
- 3rd–4th infusions: aroma and flavor reach harmonious balance
- 5th–6th infusions: reveal deeper, lingering notes
- 7th–8th infusions: although lighter, express the tea’s purest essence
The liquor should appear emerald green, clear, and bright with strong translucence. The aroma is refined yet uplifting, while the taste is fresh, sweet, and smooth on the throat. This sequence highlights Dong Ding’s resilience and rich complexity.
Ambience and State of Mind
Brewing Dong Ding Oolong is not only about technique but also mindfulness. Thin porcelain cups help release aromas, allowing one to savor the delicate floral layers. Each cup embodies the harmony of tea selection, water choice, teaware, and brewing method. This evolving and playful process is precisely the refined joy that premium Oolong tea brings.
