Spring Sprite
Spring Sprite - Image 2
Spring Sprite - Image 3

Spring Sprite

Organic Wuyi Lao Cong Shui Xian

Tasting notes: A medium roast oolong with notes of roasted nuts, pastry crust, coffee and sweet wet wood. Comforting, buttery mouthfeel and long lasting sweet mineral finish.

Price range: $13.90 through $104.00

Cultivar: Shui Xian
Altitude: 700m
Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

Shui Xian (Water Sprite or Water Narcissus) a very characteristic yancha (rock oolong). Lao Cong Shui Xian is made from tea bushes 60-70 years old, which contributes much to the taste of the tea due to:

  • the plants having had decades of growing to build up a more complex set of defensive aromatics
  • the older plants having a more established root system which take up more nutrients from the soil
  • Lao Cong tea plants being left relatively unpruned to maximise quality
  • old bushes developing lichen and moss cover, which become a flavour note in the tea

Brewing Suggestions

Gong Fu Brewing:

5g per 100ml water at 95-99°. First infusion 30s; subsequent infusions +5s.

Western Brewing:

1.2g per 100ml water at 95-99°. First infusion 2m; subsequent infusions +60s.