Duck Shit (Ya Shi Xiang) Oolong Tea [LIMITED RELEASE]

Duck Shit Tea I'm sorry, did you just say "Duck Shit Tea"? Yes. Yes, we did. And before you ask: no, it doesn't contain or taste like it. Read out blog on Duck Shit Tea: The Premium Oolong You Need to Try. The name is famously unappealing. The tea is anything but. Duck Shit Tea, or Ya Shi Xiang, is a highly aromatic Phoenix Dan Cong oolong from the Phoenix Mountains of Guangdong, China. This is seriously good tea. Intensely fragrant, complex and beautifully layered, with notes of gardenia and orchid, soft honeyed sweetness, a creamy body and subtle mineral character. So why the hell is it called Duck Shit Tea? The most famous story is that a tea farmer had discovered an exceptionally fragrant tea and didn't want anyone stealing cuttings from his prized bushes. So, when people asked what it was, he gave it a deliberately terrible name: Ya Shi Xiang — Duck Shit Fragrance. Other versions link the name to the distinctive yellow-brown “duck shit soil” where the original tea bushes grew. Whatever the exact origin, the name stuck, and today, Ya Shi Xiang is one of the most distinctive styles of Phoenix Dan Cong oolong. Be careful when brewing. Resist the urge to brew this like a regular cup of tea. A long first steep can overpower the delicate aromatics and leave you with a very bitter cup. Short, repeated infusions are where this tea really comes into its own. See our "How to Brew" section for more details. This tea is best enjoyed during the day, particularly when you're sharing a pot with friends. This is a tea worth talking about, comparing, re-steeping and, frankly, having a good laugh about, especially once you can tell people what you're drinking.