Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark, twisted
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: amber
I must confess to neglecting my Wuyi oolongs lately. I really do love them so but I don’t get as much opportunity to drink them. The kind folks at Zhen Tea gifted me a bit of this tea when I saw them at the New York Coffee and Tea Festival. Shui Jin Gui is often translated as Golden Water Turtle. There are a few different legends on how this tea got its name so I’ll be writing a Legends of the Leaf post on it soon. The first thing that I noticed when drinking this tea was the texture. It was smooth and thick, somewhere between butter and maple syrup. Wuyi oolongs are known for their roastiness but it was not heavy here. A cacao-like sweetness lingered deliciously long after each sip. In my later infusions (I ended at around ten) it transitioned into a plummy fruitiness. This was the kind of tea that just sort of melts my insides, like a rush of relaxation. There was just the slightest hint of astringency but it never came close to bitterness. The heartbreak of Wuyi oolongs is that they are pricey but the good ones are worth every penny. I have some of their Rou Gui, my favorite cliff tea, that I’m really looking forward to sharing with you all soon.
Shui Jin Gui sample provided by Zhen Tea.