How to use loose leaf tea
Place tea leaves in a teapot, infuser basket, or empty tea bag
Pour hot water over the tea (rather than dunking tea leaves into the water)
Strain or remove leaves before enjoying
If you need help getting started with loose leaf tea, read our article here. We also sell easy-to-use infusers and fillable tea bags — shop here.
Brewing Guidelines
Heat 8 oz of filtered water to a boil. Pour water over 2g (about 1 Tbsp) tea leaves in a teapot or a strainer set in a cup. Steep for 3 – 4 minutes.
If you prefer your tea stronger, we suggest using more tea rather than increasing the amount of time; longer steep times may impact the flavor of the tea.
If serving over ice, use more tea when brewing to avoid diluting the tea too much as it cools.
Always use filtered or spring water to fully enjoy the taste of your tea. For best results, brew using a teapot with a removable filter that allows the leaves to unfurl completely. Avoid tea balls/eggs or other infusers that compress the tea leaves.
The tea leaves can be re-steeped multiple times, increasing the steeping time slightly for each infusion. Notice the different flavors that emerge with each steeping.
Cold Brew
Phoenix Oolong makes an excellent cold brew tea, with less astringency and less caffeine than regular iced tea. To make it, cover 10 g of tea with 4 – 5 cups of cool water and leave in the refrigerator overnight. If you forget about your tea, don't worry – it won't get bitter with longer cold extraction times.
Storing Tea
Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from strong odors, moisture, and light. We do not recommend storing tea in clear containers (such as glass jars) as light can affect the shelf life of tea.
Oolong tea should be consumed within 2 – 3 years of purchase for optimal flavor. However, it can be stored for longer and will develop slightly different flavors over time.
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About this Tea
The Dan Cong style of oolong is known for producing teas with distinct floral or fruit aromas. Produced from tea bushes grown in the Phoenix Mountain region of Guangdong Province, Dan Cong oolongs are traditionally made using leaves from only a single tea bush. Our 2025 Phoenix Oolong is atypical in that it is a blend of several different bushes – resulting in a tea that perfectly captures the overarching character of the style. The bushes used to create this tea are some of the oldest in the region, many of which are over 100 years old.