"Golden Turtle" Shui Jin Gui Wuyi Oolong Tea

DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, THIS TEA IS SOLD OUT

A disciple asked the wise, and very old, tea master Lao Cha, of his secret to longevity. 

Golden Water Turtle – he answered, offering a small cup of tea.

Puzzled, the disciple took a sip. The unique Yan Yun, the minerals, the notes of heart-warming chocolate, and the sweet roasted taste... all enveloped his body and soul. The disciple had no further questions. 

The Wuyi Mountain region is a place with a unique terroir. Though not incredibly high, fog and mist always shroud the mountain peaks. The moisture accumulates on the rocky sides of the mountains. It then flows down these rocks to the roots of the tea plants, enriching them with minerals and creating the unique Yan Yun (岩韵 – "rock rhyme") taste, for which "Golden Water Turtle" Shui Jin Gui Oolong Tea is famous.

Golden Water Turtle, otherwise known as Shui Jin Gui, is a famous Wuyi Oolong tea, one of the "four big and famous bushes" among the Northern Fujian teas - the other three are Da Hong Pao, Tie Luo Han, and Bai Ji Guan. This Cliff Tea is roasted three times over a traditional wood charcoal fire, and the result is an incredibly smooth yancha with a medium roast. Gently submerge it in boiling water for a translucent, orange-red tea soup with an unexpectedly sweet and mellow taste. Peach, exotic flowers, and dark chocolate swirl, gradually revealing woody notes in a taste that's comforting and refreshing at the same time. This Oolong is pretty enduring – you can get quite a few brews, gongfu style, making your way through a kaleidoscope of flavors, as they gradually evolve and transform with each subsequent brew.

The legend of the Golden Water Turtle dates way back when Wuyi mountain dwellers lived high on the slopes, cultivating delicious tea bushes. One day, a strong storm washed the tea bushes, along with clay and rocks, onto another nearby farm. Once the storm passed, the tea bush growing from the mud resembled a swimming turtle, hence its name, the Water Turtle. Today, only three original tea bushes remain. While these bushes are subject to strict protective measures, and no one can harvest their tea leaves, our Shui Jin Gui is their direct descendant.

The prime Wuyi Shan area, Zheng Yan, where this tea is from, is a National Reserve. The use of pesticides is prohibited. Naturally, the tea coming from the region is organic. After harvest, the Wuyi yancha goes through an intricate and prolonged harvesting process, where the tea farmers must be fully present and alert to create a perfectly balanced tea.