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Shui Jin Gui

 

One of the Si Da Ming Cong, or 'four famous bushes', the most renowned of Wuyi Yan Cha cultivars, Shui Jin Gui defies its characteristic roasting with a distinct note of uncooked fruit, like fresh green apples, sugarcane, or juicy plums. Yet neither does it disappoint the lover of Rock Teas: its twisted, charcoal-coloured leaves give off a charcoal taste, evoking grilled zucchini and a subtle scent of caramel and cream in the wet leaves. This tea has been stored in the Nannuoshan warehouse for three years in order to smooth down the roasting for a balanced taste; now it's time to enjoy it!

The perfect tea for demanding connoisseurs that enjoy drinking a balanced Yan Cha while imagining themselves perched atop tall Fujian cliffs.

 

Wuyi Yan Cha – the tea from the rocks

Wuyi Yan Cha, aka Wuyi Rock Tea or, more properly, Cliff Tea, is an ancient oolong tea (one of the six tea categories, halfway between green and black teas). Rock tea is produced in the northern Fujian province.
Wuyi Yan Cha are complex teas. The typical mineral savour shares the field with the strength from roasting and the delicate floral and fruity hints.

  • ORIGIN:  Da Wang Feng, Wuyishan, Fujian, China
  • MEANING:  Golden water turtle (shui jin gui)
  • CULTIVAR:  Shui Jin Gui
  • HARVEST TIME:  Spring 2017
  • TASTE:  Roasted zucchini, green apple, subtly caramelized
  • ROASTING:  Twice at 120°C

15.00 €


Preparation
IN THE TEAPOT
  • Quantity: 6g / 500ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • Infusion time: 5 min
GONGFU CHA METHOD
  • Quantity: 3g / 100ml
  • Water temperature: 90°C
  • 3 infusions: 60, 60, 90 sec

For best results in gongfu cha, brew in the traditional gaiwan or in a Yixing teapot. Too high water temperature would burn the leaves, resulting in bitter taste.

Additional Information

Authentic Wuyi Yan Cha is produced in the Wuyi Mount region, a UNESCO natural heritage site. The dramatic gorges of the Nine Bend River are surrounded by a largely intact subtropical forest and smooth cliffs of black-brownish rocks. The tea plants grow in narrow valleys, next to the cliffs, in a mineral-rich soil.

The Nine Bend River
The Nine Bend River
Tea bushes next to the dark cliff
The rock cliffs, a close view
Tea leaves have been processed here for at least a thousand years. From the 11th to 16th centuries, when Oolong tea was yet to be invented, there was an imperial tea farm on the mountains, producing green tea for the imperial court. Oolong production was boosted in the 17th century thanks to the great export demand from Europe. At that time, Wuyi was known in England as “Bohea,” and the tea imported from this region was labeled black tea. Note that black tea, as we know it today, was created centuries later.
Today Wuyi Yan Cha is one of the most valued teas in China. Because it has become a status symbol, many wealthy Chinese are willing to pay a fortune for it without even knowing how a proper Wuyi Yan Cha should taste. The result has been prices inflating to unjustified level and quality often sacrificed for quantity.
Unique to the Wuyi Yan Cha is a mineral savor coming from the soil and the surrounding cliffs. Being the oolong with the highest fire finish, fresh Yan Cha may as a result be strong and pungent. Sharpness and too-prominent astringency subside upon ageing. Premium high-fire Yan Cha tastes better after a few years of storage. Use a Yixing teapot to soften the tea, should it be too astringent for your palate.
The overall tasting profile is rich, complex, and deep. Depending on cultivar and environment, the mineral-roasted flavor is refined by floral, fruity, nutty or woody accents.

SHIPMENT LIMITATIONS TO USA

 

Due to the increasing spread of the COVID-19 virus shipment to the USA is currently possible only for some types of parcel.

Should your order be affected, we will dispatch the parcel as soon as the restrictions are removed.