D² Tea Library

Chinese tea, explained by the cup.

Every drink on our menu starts with a Chinese tea. These pages answer the questions tea lovers ask about those teas — one question at a time, with our sources.

Illustration

Baiya Qilan

An orchid-scented oolong from Pinghe, southern Fujian — and one of the least documented teas in English.

• What Is Baiya Qilan, and Is It the Same as Wuyi Qilan?Baiya Qilan is an orchid-scented oolong cultivar from Pinghe in southern Fujian. "Wuyi Qilan" is largely the same plant grown and made as rock tea in the Wuyi Mountains. Here's the difference.

Illustration

Da Hong Pao & Wuyi Rock Oolong

Roasted oolongs from the cliffs of the Wuyi Mountains, the tea behind our Roasted Oolong Tea Latte.

• What Is Da Hong Pao Today: a Cultivar, a Blend or a Style?The original Da Hong Pao mother trees haven't been picked since 2006. So what is the Da Hong Pao in your cup? Clones of the famous trees, or a blend of Wuyi rock teas?
• What Is Yan Yun ("Rock Rhyme") in Wuyi Oolong?Yan yun is the mineral, lingering character prized in Wuyi rock tea. What it means, the zhengyan, banyan and zhoucha growing zones, and what research says about why location matters.
• Da Hong Pao Legends: What's History and What's Modern?The red robe, the cured scholar, the record auction: which Da Hong Pao stories are old legends, which are documented facts, and which are recent inventions.

Illustration

Phoenix Dancong

Aromatic oolongs from Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, sorted by the fragrance each tree is known for.

• What Are the Phoenix Dancong Aroma Types?The ten aroma types traditionally used to sort Phoenix Dancong oolong (gardenia, orchid, honey orchid, almond and more) and what the names mean.
• Why Is It Called "Duck Shit" Tea? (Ya Shi Xiang Dancong)The story behind Ya Shi Xiang, the Phoenix Dancong oolong with the world's least appetising name, and why it smells nothing like its name.

Illustration

Osmanthus Oolong

Oolong layered with fresh osmanthus blossoms — not to be confused with a dancong that merely smells of them.

• Is Osmanthus Oolong a Scented Tea or a Dancong Aroma?"Osmanthus oolong" can mean two different teas: oolong scented with fresh osmanthus flowers, or a Phoenix Dancong that naturally smells of them. Here's how to tell them apart.

Illustration

Gongfu Brewing

How tea is brewed in small pots and many short infusions, from Chaozhou kitchens to tea tables everywhere.

• What Are the Steps of Chaozhou Gongfu Tea?The traditional sequence of Chaozhou gongfu tea as recorded in China's national intangible heritage list, the classic teaware, and how everyday gongfu differs from a staged tea performance.
• Should You Rinse Tea Before Brewing?Why gongfu brewers rinse oolong and pu-erh, which teas to skip it for, how long to rinse, and what research says about rinsing and pesticide residue.

Illustration

From Milk Tea to Loose Leaf

For bubble tea drinkers curious about the teas inside the cup.

• From Bubble Tea to Loose Leaf: Where Should a Milk Tea Lover Start?If you love bubble tea and want to try the teas inside it, here's a simple path from your usual order to jasmine, oolong and gongfu brewing, with no snobbery required.