Nǐ hǎo, dear tea lovers

Like promised I finally translated the the second part of the travelogue from Fenghuang. While the focus in the first part was mainly on harvest, I focus now on production of Dan Con Oolong.

The harvested and sun bathed tea leaves are moved inside for further wilting under controlled conditions. For this purpose, the tea leaves are spread on handy bamboo trays which are stacked in racks. It is very important that the air can circulate between the tea leaves. The tea master shows us how to optimally distribute the tea leaves. Gently, and with full attention. Almost zen like.

Teemeister an der Arbeit
The tea master distributes the tea leaves

The student follows meticulous all instructions of the tea master. Nevertheless, here and there, the tea master intervenes or gives valuable tips.

Schüler lernt vom Meister.
Scholar learns from the master

While we distribute the tea leaves unwanted components, such as stems, are removed.

Entfernen von Stängeln.
Removing of stems

The bamboo trays are pushed into the rack and the tea leaves are left to wilt again. From time to time the tea master will check to see if the tea leaves are ready to turn over. This is necessary about every one to one and a half hours. The right moment is given by smell, feel or look of the tea leaves. This step requires a lot experience as it will affect the teas quality.

Bambustrog
Bamboo tray is pushed into the rack

During the wilt process I use my spare time to take a few night shots. I can’t sleep anyway because of the excitement although I have been traveling for 48 hours without significant sleep.

Nachtschicht
Fenghuang by night

Meanwhile, the tea master spends his time drinking tea. In Chaozhou, tea is poured without a fairness pot directly into the teacups. The cups are filled with circling, fast moves so that each cup contains the same content. This technique is a bit lavish in my opinion as a lot tea is wasted that way but after all, tea is abundant in Fenghuang. One more thing about Chaozhou style: The Gaiwans here are very small, about 120cl or even smaller and filled to the top with tea leaves which are then infused several times.

Chaouzhou style tea tasting
Chaouzhou style tea tasting

After a while, it’s time to “wake up” the tea leaves. This is done by turning the tea leaves gently. This opens the veins in the tea leaves and the contained juice can continue to evaporate. This is necessary to keep the wilting process ongoing. This step is repeated several times throughout the night until the tea leaves are ready for the next step.

Teeblätter werden gewendet.
Turning of tea leaves

Towards the end of the wilting process, the tea leaves are vigorously shaken. For this purpose, another method is used. Again, it shows who is the master. All tea leaves land in the middle of the tea tray.

YouTube video

Meanwhile, half of the scholar tea leaves end up on the ground. Luckily,  these are not super expansive Lao Cong or Wudong tea leaves.

Teeherstellung
The scholar tries

Presumably, this why the tea master let me try as well.

Teamania macht Tee
I try as well

At the end of the wilting process, the tea leaves are wrapped with blankets to start the oxidation process. Possibly, this also a fermentation process because the tea leaves get noticeably warm.

Teeblätter werden eingepackt
Tea leaves are wrapped

The last step before heating: The veins of the tea leaves are broken in the big bamboo drum in order to stop the wilting process.

Bambustrommel
Bamboo drum

The bamboo drum is filled by the tea master himself. And again, unwanted stems are removed also in this step. In the drum, the tea leaves are then spinned for about twenty minutes. The duration also depends on experience and the tea master checks the tea leaves regularly. Towards the end, the inspection intervals increase significantly.

Bambustrommel wird mit Tee befüllt
Bamboo drum is filled

In the hot air oven, the tea leaves are heated in order to make them soft and supple for the kneading process.

Erhitzen der Teeblätter
The tea leaves get heated

The leaves are rolled in the kneader to break the cell walls. The leaves are noticeably stronger rolled than in Wuyi.

Knetmaschine
Kneader in action

There is not much to say about the kneaded tea leaves. Except maybe that they are a bit sticky.

geknetete Teeblätter
This is how kneaded tea leaves look like

There is also for separating and distributing of the tea leaves a separate machine. With high-quality and thus expensive tea leaves this step is made entirely by hand.

Tee wird getrennt
The individual tea leaves are separated and distributed

The tea leaves are roasted in a wood stove to stop further oxidation. The parameters (temperature and time) for the roasting is determined by the tea master according to his experience.

Holzofen
Wood stove

In the wood stove is enough space for several bamboo trays.

Pizzaofen?
I wonder if it’s also possible to bake bake pizza in here?

After baking, the tea looks like this. This level is called mao cha (raw tea) because it’s still unsorted and therefore full of stems and huang pian (yellow leaves). In addition, the tea must be roasted several times before it is completed.

Maocha
fresh roasted mao cha

At the end of a long night (meanwhile it’s day again) the fresh produced mao cha is tasted. It tastes to me more like a green tea than a oolong. That’s because the final result can be seen only after repeated roasting.

Frischer Maocha.
Infused mao cha tea leaves

More about Phoenix oolong in the third part: Teamania in Fenghuang – Trip to Wudong.

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