Yashi Xiang (Duck Sh** Aroma)

Phoenix Oolong • Guangdong, China

Yashi Xiang, literally Duck Sh** Aroma, is one of the lighter expressions of Phoenix Oolong. It is celebrated for its exuberant floral fragrance, lively bitterness, and remarkable mineral character. It gives you a beautiful bouquet from the very first steep.

Amidst rose water, sweet bakery notes, and a grassiness reminiscent of buttered artichoke, the dominant structure is elemental: fresh water running over stones. Tree bark. A walk in the woods. Bright, cleansing, warming, and gently uplifting, Yashi has a way of making the world feel a little more awake.

Sometimes called Persimmon Aroma or Honeysuckle Aroma in polite company, the traditional name, Duck Sh**, is the most memorable. It is a bit like the Iceland-Greenland situation.

The Tea

Yashi is a specific cultivar whose distinctive aroma has been preserved through generations of grafting. Like all Phoenix Oolongs, it expresses the regional terroir known as Shan Yun—"mountain charm." Its lively bitterness reflects an abundance of naturally occurring polyphenols, particularly catechins, which contribute both to its flavor and to its invigorating character.

Although Yashi is one of the more popular Phoenix cultivars, it fluctuates in quality harvest-to-harvest. This year, the stars were in its favor.

Brewing

Phoenix Oolongs reward short steeps. Brief infusions soften the bitterness while gradually revealing the tea's floral perfume, mineral depth, and evolving sweetness.

Gongfu cha itself emerged from the Phoenix region. The traditional Chaozhou method uses densely packed teapots, boiling water, and exceptionally short steeps—a wonderful way to experience this tea.

Peddler's Note

Yashi always feels bright, definitely lifting energy toward the head. Recently, a friend and I shared this tea on a groggy morning. By the end of the session, we had both become noticeably brighter, more vibrant, and full of ideas.