Lugu Dong Ding OolongLugu Dong Ding Oolong
Flavour
Pronounced roast aroma with a long throat finish
Fair priceverified
One jin is 600 g. Below NT$700, be sceptical.
A reasonable range is NT$1,200–3,000 per 600 g. Below NT$700, ask more questions. Competition-grade lots command a large premium. Ask which association ran the competition, which year, and for the seal.
What to ask when buying this
Grading standards differ between associations, so awards are not comparable across competitions. Genuine lots come with a seal and certificate.
Freshly roasted tea carries harsh fire; two weeks of rest makes it rounder. You can also ask whether it has been re-roasted.
Spring and winter lots fetch the highest prices and the best aroma; summer and autumn are a step down in both.
If they will not let you taste but want you to buy 600 g of something expensive, walk away. It is the simplest and most effective filter there is.
Specifications
Brewing
Temperatures follow the official category guidance. Source: TRES — Effects of water quality and temperature on tea liquor
Common mistakes with this tea
95°C or above. Too cool and the roast aroma never opens, leaving it flat.
Rolled-ball leaf needs the first infusion to open up; the second is then shorter.
A freshly bought heavy roast rounds out after a rest.
The most common beginner regret is buying 600 g on the first try. Buy a jin only after you know you like it.
What to eat with it
The fat in a flaky pastry coats the palate. The caffeine and roast in a fired tea clear it, so the second bite still tastes of something.
This one is still being listed. Have a look at what is already in the storefront.
Location accuracy: named locality (23.7440, 120.7510). This marks the growing area, not one specific garden.