Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark brown, spindly
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Steep Time: 5 seconds
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: gold
Long-time readers will know that I am a big fan of Phoenix oolongs. Azenbor is a new company that recently sent me a selection of ten different fragrances, some of which I had never tried before. Needless to say, I am very excited to dig in. First up is one of my favorites. Jing Hua Ziang, or Ginger Flower Fragrance, is one that I’ve only tried once before. It is the 2025 spring harvest from Chaozhou in Guangdong, China.
lEAF
The dry leaves of Azenbor Ginger Flower Fragrance were dark brown and spindly in the typical style of oolongs from this region. They had a woody, sweet, and spicy aroma. I prepared it gongfu style using a porcelain gaiwan and fully boiling water. I followed Azenbor’s recommendation of flash steeps for the first three infusions and then added 5 seconds for each subsequent round. Dancong oolongs have a reputation for being fussy, but brewing this way brings out the best flavor without drawing out too much astringency.
lIQUOR
Azenbor Ginger Flower Fragrance brewed up a clear gold liquor. The taste was creamy and floral with a definite ginger note followed by a subtle smokiness. The overall effect was multilayered and really made me slow down to appreciate every sip. I also took the time to savor the aroma left behind on my gaiwan lid after each infusion because it had more floral character than what I was getting in the cup.
It is a bit sharper than the more floral or fruity fragrances of dancong, but not in an unpleasant way. The spiciness fades to the background in later infusions. The tea still had flavor to give after many infusions, but it was getting too late in the evening to continue on. I really enjoyed this tea, and I’m looking forward to trying the other fragrance styles they have to offer.
Have you tried Azenbor Ginger Flower Fragrance? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below!
Ginger Flower Fragrance (Jiang Hua) sample provided for review by Azenbor.
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This was one of the new-to-me stand outs in their wonderful sampler! I love your tasting notes.
Thanks, Traci!